Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2014-02-11 — IN
Operator
Indiana Gas Co Inc
Cause
Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$45,000
Incident datetime
2014-02-11 11:50
Report number
Location
IN, FOUNTAIN
Narrative
Vectren did not receive notification of the explosion from local emergency responders. A vectren employee heard of explosion on a scanner and immediately notified the local supervisor. Vectren sent an employee to the site finding natural gas migrating into a storm drain and nearby residential homes due to the depth of frost in the area. Investigating the source of escaping natural gas, employee found a leak under new street, which runs east and west north of the explosion location. After monitoring the area, company crews excavated the source of leak finding a crack in a 4' steel main that transverse an oxy-acetylene welded miter joint. Two stopple fittings were installed on the one-way fed main to bypass the cracked main enabling the section to be isolated. A 45� weld ell was installed to repair the cracked main and to remove the miter joint. After this installation, the stopple fittings were removed and the isolated section was energized. An initial report from the attica volunteer fire department indicates the item first ignited was gas vapor in air and that factors contributing to ignition were ruptured gas line allowed gas to migrate along water lines into basement of building. Vectren is continuing its own independent investigation into the cause and origin of this incident. Update: vectren's independent investigation into the cause and origin of this incident included a root cause analysis and a metallurgical destructive testing of the 4" steel main referenced in the first paragraph of this narrative. The root cause analysis, while beneficial in identifying potential factors that may have played a role in the incident, was inconclusive as to the origin or cause of the incident. Additionally, the metallurgical destructive testing of the 4" steel main and associated cracked oxy-acetylene welded miter joint provided no definitive conclusion as to whether the cracked weld was a result of the explosion, or a condition existing at the time of the explosion.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2014-02-11 11:50:00
Year
2014
Report Received Date
2014-03-07 00:00:00
Iyear
2014.0
Report Number
20140021.0
Supplemental Number
16594.0
Report Type
Supplemental
Operator Id
8070
Name
Indiana Gas Co Inc
Operator Street Address
211 Nw Riverside Drive
Operator City Name
Evansville
Operator State Abbreviation
IN
Operator Postal Code
47708
Local Datetime
2014-02-11 10:50:00
Location Street Address
700 S. Perry Street
Location City Name
Attica
Location County Name
Fountain
Location State Abbreviation
IN
Location Postal Code
47918-1634
Location Latitude
40.2885
Location Longitude
-87.25223
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-02-11 13:06:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1073624
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
211.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
20.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-02-11 11:50:00
On Site Datetime
2014-02-11 11:53:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Pavement
Depth Of Cover
39.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1941.0
Pipe Diameter
4.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Wt Steel
0.25
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
152000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
45000.0
Est Cost Emergency
5000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
971.0
Prpty
202971.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
4.0
Accident Psig
54.0
Normal Psig
54.0
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
The scada based system that monitored the main on which the leak occured only provides a high/low pressure alarm and the pressure remained within acceptable parameters.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Cause Details
Other Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Pwjf Failure Type
Other Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Pwjf Failure Details
Crack In A Miter Joint
Additional Crack Ind
Yes
Result Material Ind
Yes
Result Material Subtype
Other
Result Material Details
Crack In A Miter Joint
Hydrotest Conducted Ind
No
Preparer Name
J*** A* S*****
Preparer Title
Manager Quality Assurance
Preparer Email
J*******@v******.com
Preparer Telephone
937-440-1844
Preparer Fax
937-440-1818
Authorizer Name
J**** M* F******
Authorizer Title
Director Engineering And Asset Management
Authorizer Telephone
812-491-4369
Authorizer Email
J********@v******.com
Narrative
Vectren did not receive notification of the explosion from local emergency responders. A vectren employee heard of explosion on a scanner and immediately notified the local supervisor. Vectren sent an employee to the site finding natural gas migrating into a storm drain and nearby residential homes due to the depth of frost in the area. Investigating the source of escaping natural gas, employee found a leak under new street, which runs east and west north of the explosion location. After monitoring the area, company crews excavated the source of leak finding a crack in a 4' steel main that transverse an oxy-acetylene welded miter joint. Two stopple fittings were installed on the one-way fed main to bypass the cracked main enabling the section to be isolated. A 45� weld ell was installed to repair the cracked main and to remove the miter joint. After this installation, the stopple fittings were removed and the isolated section was energized. An initial report from the attica volunteer fire department indicates the item first ignited was gas vapor in air and that factors contributing to ignition were ruptured gas line allowed gas to migrate along water lines into basement of building. Vectren is continuing its own independent investigation into the cause and origin of this incident. Update: vectren's independent investigation into the cause and origin of this incident included a root cause analysis and a metallurgical destructive testing of the 4" steel main referenced in the first paragraph of this narrative. The root cause analysis, while beneficial in identifying potential factors that may have played a role in the incident, was inconclusive as to the origin or cause of the incident. Additionally, the metallurgical destructive testing of the 4" steel main and associated cracked oxy-acetylene welded miter joint provided no definitive conclusion as to whether the cracked weld was a result of the explosion, or a condition existing at the time of the explosion.
| Occurred At | 2014-02-11 11:50:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Report Received Date | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2014.0 |
| Report Number | 20140021.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16594.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental |
| Operator Id | 8070 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Indiana Gas Co Inc |
| Operator Street Address | 211 Nw Riverside Drive |
| Operator City Name | Evansville |
| Operator State Abbreviation | IN |
| Operator Postal Code | 47708 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-02-11 10:50:00 |
| Location Street Address | 700 S. Perry Street |
| Location City Name | Attica |
| Location County Name | Fountain |
| Location State Abbreviation | IN |
| Location Postal Code | 47918-1634 |
| Location Latitude | 40.2885 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -87.25223 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2014-02-11 13:06:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1073624 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 211.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 20.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2014-02-11 11:50:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-02-11 11:53:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Pavement |
| Depth Of Cover | 39.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1941.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 4.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Unknown |
| Wt Steel | 0.25 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 152000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 45000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 5000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 971.0 |
| Prpty | 202971.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 4.0 |
| Accident Psig | 54.0 |
| Normal Psig | 54.0 |
| 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 | The scada based system that monitored the main on which the leak occured only provides a high/low pressure alarm and the pressure remained within acceptable parameters. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure |
| Cause Details | Other Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure |
| Pwjf Failure Type | Other Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure |
| Pwjf Failure Details | Crack In A Miter Joint |
| Additional Crack Ind | Yes |
| Result Material Ind | Yes |
| Result Material Subtype | Other |
| Result Material Details | Crack In A Miter Joint |
| Hydrotest Conducted Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | J*** A* S***** |
| Preparer Title | Manager Quality Assurance |
| Preparer Email | J*******@v******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 937-440-1844 |
| Preparer Fax | 937-440-1818 |
| Authorizer Name | J**** M* F****** |
| Authorizer Title | Director Engineering And Asset Management |
| Authorizer Telephone | 812-491-4369 |
| Authorizer Email | J********@v******.com |
| Narrative | Vectren did not receive notification of the explosion from local emergency responders. A vectren employee heard of explosion on a scanner and immediately notified the local supervisor. Vectren sent an employee to the site finding natural gas migrating into a storm drain and nearby residential homes due to the depth of frost in the area. Investigating the source of escaping natural gas, employee found a leak under new street, which runs east and west north of the explosion location. After monitoring the area, company crews excavated the source of leak finding a crack in a 4' steel main that transverse an oxy-acetylene welded miter joint. Two stopple fittings were installed on the one-way fed main to bypass the cracked main enabling the section to be isolated. A 45� weld ell was installed to repair the cracked main and to remove the miter joint. After this installation, the stopple fittings were removed and the isolated section was energized. An initial report from the attica volunteer fire department indicates the item first ignited was gas vapor in air and that factors contributing to ignition were ruptured gas line allowed gas to migrate along water lines into basement of building. Vectren is continuing its own independent investigation into the cause and origin of this incident. Update: vectren's independent investigation into the cause and origin of this incident included a root cause analysis and a metallurgical destructive testing of the 4" steel main referenced in the first paragraph of this narrative. The root cause analysis, while beneficial in identifying potential factors that may have played a role in the incident, was inconclusive as to the origin or cause of the incident. Additionally, the metallurgical destructive testing of the 4" steel main and associated cracked oxy-acetylene welded miter joint provided no definitive conclusion as to whether the cracked weld was a result of the explosion, or a condition existing at the time of the explosion. |
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