Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2013-12-27 — MA
Operator
Nstar Gas Company
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$90,000
Incident datetime
2013-12-27 13:00
Report number
Location
MA, WORCESTER
Narrative
On friday, december 27, 2013 at 1:00 pm nstar gas had an ignition and fire in an excavation at 15 colonial dr. In shrewsbury while performing a main cut out. The crew was cutting out a section of 4 inch ip plastic main that was leaking. The crew had installed a 2 inch plastic bypass around the leak and had squeezed off the 4 inch main to stop off the gas. While preparing for the main cut out of 4 inch plastic, a sudden rush of gas occurred and then the gas ignited causing a fire to occur in the excavation. There were 2 employees in the excavation who were able to get themselves out of the hole just before the ignition occurred. One of these employees did receive some burns and was treated and released from a hospital. The resulting fire also spread to an nstar backhoe parked at the excavation. The shrewsbury fire department was called to control the gas fire. At 1:50 pm a main valve on colonial dr. Was shut to stop the leaking gas and put out the fire. This resulted in an outage to 135 customers. Nstar had to replace about 20 feet of 4 inch plastic main due to fire damage. After the shutdown procedure was completed for all customers, the gas mains were purged and the gas was turned back on at 8:15 pm. The first customer was re-lit at 8:30 pm and a first pass to re-lite all 135 customers was completed at 11:45 pm. Nstar is in the process of determining was caused the sudden leakage of gas and also what caused the ignition to occur. Supplemental response - upon investigation, it was found that a complete squeeze was not achieved with a mustang squeeze tool used on the downstream side of the repair. This resulted in live gas in what was thought to be an isolated section of main. This was not recognized by the crew, who then began to remove a steel full encirclement clamp that had been installed 3 days prior as a temporary repair, which led to a release of gas. It was determined that static electricity ignited this gas. Om procedures were followed for the repair and have since been revised to include added safety measures.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2013-12-27 13:00:00
Year
2013
Report Received Date
2014-01-24 00:00:00
Iyear
2013.0
Report Number
20140005.0
Supplemental Number
30883.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2652
Name
Nstar Gas Company
Operator Street Address
157 Cordaville Road
Operator City Name
Southborough
Operator State Abbreviation
MA
Operator Postal Code
01772
Local Datetime
2013-12-27 13:00:00
Location Street Address
15 Colonial Dr
Location City Name
Shrewsbury
Location County Name
Worcester
Location State Abbreviation
MA
Location Postal Code
01545
Location Latitude
42.325644
Location Longitude
-71.716733
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2013-12-27 15:36:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1069557
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
550.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2013-12-27 13:00:00
On Site Datetime
2013-12-27 13:00:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
36.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1982.0
Pipe Diameter
4.0
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Dupont
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11.5
Material Pe Pipe Code
2306
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Class Location Type
Class 2 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
2000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
90000.0
Est Cost Emergency
25000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
6490.0
Prpty
123490.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
135.0
Accident Psig
53.0
Normal Psig
53.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Investigation Status
No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate)
Investigation Status Details
Incident was due to field personnel actions. Control room had nothing to do with what occurred.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
5
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related Other Ind
Yes
Operation Related Details
Squeeze-Off Tool Not Installed Correctly/completely, Squeeze Not Verified
Category Type
Routine Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
R***** B******
Preparer Title
Manager Gas Engineering
Preparer Email
R*************@e*********.com
Preparer Telephone
5083057036
Preparer Fax
5083056918
Authorizer Name
R***** B******
Authorizer Title
Manager Gas Engineering
Authorizer Telephone
5083057036
Authorizer Email
R*************@e*********.com
Narrative
On friday, december 27, 2013 at 1:00 pm nstar gas had an ignition and fire in an excavation at 15 colonial dr. In shrewsbury while performing a main cut out. The crew was cutting out a section of 4 inch ip plastic main that was leaking. The crew had installed a 2 inch plastic bypass around the leak and had squeezed off the 4 inch main to stop off the gas. While preparing for the main cut out of 4 inch plastic, a sudden rush of gas occurred and then the gas ignited causing a fire to occur in the excavation. There were 2 employees in the excavation who were able to get themselves out of the hole just before the ignition occurred. One of these employees did receive some burns and was treated and released from a hospital. The resulting fire also spread to an nstar backhoe parked at the excavation. The shrewsbury fire department was called to control the gas fire. At 1:50 pm a main valve on colonial dr. Was shut to stop the leaking gas and put out the fire. This resulted in an outage to 135 customers. Nstar had to replace about 20 feet of 4 inch plastic main due to fire damage. After the shutdown procedure was completed for all customers, the gas mains were purged and the gas was turned back on at 8:15 pm. The first customer was re-lit at 8:30 pm and a first pass to re-lite all 135 customers was completed at 11:45 pm. Nstar is in the process of determining was caused the sudden leakage of gas and also what caused the ignition to occur. Supplemental response - upon investigation, it was found that a complete squeeze was not achieved with a mustang squeeze tool used on the downstream side of the repair. This resulted in live gas in what was thought to be an isolated section of main. This was not recognized by the crew, who then began to remove a steel full encirclement clamp that had been installed 3 days prior as a temporary repair, which led to a release of gas. It was determined that static electricity ignited this gas. Om procedures were followed for the repair and have since been revised to include added safety measures.
| Occurred At | 2013-12-27 13:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2013 |
| Report Received Date | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2013.0 |
| Report Number | 20140005.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 30883.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2652 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Nstar Gas Company |
| Operator Street Address | 157 Cordaville Road |
| Operator City Name | Southborough |
| Operator State Abbreviation | MA |
| Operator Postal Code | 01772 |
| Local Datetime | 2013-12-27 13:00:00 |
| Location Street Address | 15 Colonial Dr |
| Location City Name | Shrewsbury |
| Location County Name | Worcester |
| Location State Abbreviation | MA |
| Location Postal Code | 01545 |
| Location Latitude | 42.325644 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -71.716733 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2013-12-27 15:36:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1069557 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 550.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2013-12-27 13:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2013-12-27 13:00:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Depth Of Cover | 36.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1982.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 4.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Dupont |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11.5 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2306 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Class Location Type | Class 2 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 2000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 90000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 25000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 6490.0 |
| Prpty | 123490.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 135.0 |
| Accident Psig | 53.0 |
| Normal Psig | 53.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Investigation Status | No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate) |
| Investigation Status Details | Incident was due to field personnel actions. Control room had nothing to do with what occurred. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 5 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Operation Type | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Related Other Ind | Yes |
| Operation Related Details | Squeeze-Off Tool Not Installed Correctly/completely, Squeeze Not Verified |
| Category Type | Routine Maintenance |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | R***** B****** |
| Preparer Title | Manager Gas Engineering |
| Preparer Email | R*************@e*********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 5083057036 |
| Preparer Fax | 5083056918 |
| Authorizer Name | R***** B****** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Gas Engineering |
| Authorizer Telephone | 5083057036 |
| Authorizer Email | R*************@e*********.com |
| Narrative | On friday, december 27, 2013 at 1:00 pm nstar gas had an ignition and fire in an excavation at 15 colonial dr. In shrewsbury while performing a main cut out. The crew was cutting out a section of 4 inch ip plastic main that was leaking. The crew had installed a 2 inch plastic bypass around the leak and had squeezed off the 4 inch main to stop off the gas. While preparing for the main cut out of 4 inch plastic, a sudden rush of gas occurred and then the gas ignited causing a fire to occur in the excavation. There were 2 employees in the excavation who were able to get themselves out of the hole just before the ignition occurred. One of these employees did receive some burns and was treated and released from a hospital. The resulting fire also spread to an nstar backhoe parked at the excavation. The shrewsbury fire department was called to control the gas fire. At 1:50 pm a main valve on colonial dr. Was shut to stop the leaking gas and put out the fire. This resulted in an outage to 135 customers. Nstar had to replace about 20 feet of 4 inch plastic main due to fire damage. After the shutdown procedure was completed for all customers, the gas mains were purged and the gas was turned back on at 8:15 pm. The first customer was re-lit at 8:30 pm and a first pass to re-lite all 135 customers was completed at 11:45 pm. Nstar is in the process of determining was caused the sudden leakage of gas and also what caused the ignition to occur. Supplemental response - upon investigation, it was found that a complete squeeze was not achieved with a mustang squeeze tool used on the downstream side of the repair. This resulted in live gas in what was thought to be an isolated section of main. This was not recognized by the crew, who then began to remove a steel full encirclement clamp that had been installed 3 days prior as a temporary repair, which led to a release of gas. It was determined that static electricity ignited this gas. Om procedures were followed for the repair and have since been revised to include added safety measures. |
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