Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2015-01-07 — CA
Operator
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$5,000
Incident datetime
2015-01-07 17:04
Report number
Location
CA
Narrative
On january 7, 2015 at 1704 hours in arvin, an 8-inch pressure relief valve (at pressure limiting station,4-pls off of transmission line l-300b) opened prior to reaching its set point of 749 psig resulting in an unintentional release of natural gas to the atmosphere. The pressure in l-300b at the time the relief valve operated was 720 psig. The incident was identified on pg&e's scada system. In response, pg&e gas control remotely lowered the pressure in l-300b by lowering the setpoint of the upstream regulator to 675 psig, which allowed the pressure relief valve to close at 1710 hours. Pg&e personnel arrived on scene at 1745 hours and the valve's set point of 749 psig was tested and verified. Pg&e contracted a third party engineering firm to perform a root cause analysis and provide recommendations to the station. Pg&e implemented several modifications and is currently in the design phase to rebuild pls-4. Pg&e inspects and calibrates pressure relief valves (prv) as part of pg&e's routine maintenance program, which is designed to ensure the reliable operation of this equipment at pg&e's pressure limiting stations. No customers lost gas service during the incident. Pressure in l-300b did not exceed the maop of 757 psig. There were no injuries, no fatalities and no media observed on scene during the incident. On january 9, 2015, it was estimated that the volume of gas released exceeded 3 million cubic feet (mmcf), therefore the incident was reported to the national response center and the cpuc. (please note that the responses to part e, questions 5a, 5b, and 5c of this PHMSA 7100 report are merely placeholders and do not apply. Pg&e gas control remotely lowered the pressure in l-300b by lowering the setpoint of the upstream regulator, which allowed the pressure relief valve to close. The PHMSA 7100 report form does not allow these fields to be left blank.)
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-02-06 00:00:00
Iyear
2015
Report Number
20150015
Supplemental Number
16902
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15007
Name
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Operator Street Address
6121 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
Operator City Name
San Ramon
Operator State Abbreviation
CA
Operator Postal Code
94583
Local Datetime
2015-01-07 17:04:00
Location Latitude
35.160338
Location Longitude
-118.80415
Nrc Rpt Num
1105278
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2015-01-09 00:00:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
4250
Intentional Release
0
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Closed Valve By Remotely Lowering Pressure Of Upstream Regulator Setpoint
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2015-01-07 17:04:00
On Site Datetime
2015-01-07 17:45:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ca
Onshore Postal Code
93203
Onshore City Name
Arvin
Onshore County Name
Kern County
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
4-Pls
Pipe Fac Name
L-300b
Segment Name
Mp 256.64
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Relief Valve
Installation Year
2014
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Pressure Relief Valve Unintentionally Vented Natural Gas
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
650
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
14000
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
5000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
19000
Accident Psig
720
Mop Psig
757
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(1)
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Unsuitable Mainline Ind
Yes
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
A Pig Launcher Is Installed At Pls-4, Which Allows Inspection On L-300b Between Mp 256.65-298.96 (Pls-4 To Pls-5). However, The Section Of L-300b South Of Pls-4 Is Not Currently Piggable Due To Lack Of A Launcher/receiver And Plug Valves Requiring Replacement.
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
Accident Identifier
Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations)
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
Scada-related equipment operated as intended
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Relief Valve Ind
Yes
Additional Vibration Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
C***** D****
Preparer Title
Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
C***@p**.com
Preparer Telephone
925-328-5721
Authorizer Name
L**** D*******
Authorizer Title
Manager Of Gas Operations Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
925-328-5756
Authorizer Email
L***@p**.com
Narrative
On january 7, 2015 at 1704 hours in arvin, an 8-inch pressure relief valve (at pressure limiting station,4-pls off of transmission line l-300b) opened prior to reaching its set point of 749 psig resulting in an unintentional release of natural gas to the atmosphere. The pressure in l-300b at the time the relief valve operated was 720 psig. The incident was identified on pg&e's scada system. In response, pg&e gas control remotely lowered the pressure in l-300b by lowering the setpoint of the upstream regulator to 675 psig, which allowed the pressure relief valve to close at 1710 hours. Pg&e personnel arrived on scene at 1745 hours and the valve's set point of 749 psig was tested and verified. Pg&e contracted a third party engineering firm to perform a root cause analysis and provide recommendations to the station. Pg&e implemented several modifications and is currently in the design phase to rebuild pls-4. Pg&e inspects and calibrates pressure relief valves (prv) as part of pg&e's routine maintenance program, which is designed to ensure the reliable operation of this equipment at pg&e's pressure limiting stations. No customers lost gas service during the incident. Pressure in l-300b did not exceed the maop of 757 psig. There were no injuries, no fatalities and no media observed on scene during the incident. On january 9, 2015, it was estimated that the volume of gas released exceeded 3 million cubic feet (mmcf), therefore the incident was reported to the national response center and the cpuc. (please note that the responses to part e, questions 5a, 5b, and 5c of this PHMSA 7100 report are merely placeholders and do not apply. Pg&e gas control remotely lowered the pressure in l-300b by lowering the setpoint of the upstream regulator, which allowed the pressure relief valve to close. The PHMSA 7100 report form does not allow these fields to be left blank.)
| Report Received Date | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2015 |
| Report Number | 20150015 |
| Supplemental Number | 16902 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15007 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Pacific Gas & Electric Co |
| Operator Street Address | 6121 Bollinger Canyon Rd. |
| Operator City Name | San Ramon |
| Operator State Abbreviation | CA |
| Operator Postal Code | 94583 |
| Local Datetime | 2015-01-07 17:04:00 |
| Location Latitude | 35.160338 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -118.80415 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1105278 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2015-01-09 00:00:00 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 4250 |
| Intentional Release | 0 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Closed Valve By Remotely Lowering Pressure Of Upstream Regulator Setpoint |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2015-01-07 17:04:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2015-01-07 17:45:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ca |
| Onshore Postal Code | 93203 |
| Onshore City Name | Arvin |
| Onshore County Name | Kern County |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 4-Pls |
| Pipe Fac Name | L-300b |
| Segment Name | Mp 256.64 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Relief Valve |
| Installation Year | 2014 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Pressure Relief Valve Unintentionally Vented Natural Gas |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 650 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 14000 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 5000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 19000 |
| Accident Psig | 720 |
| Mop Psig | 757 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(1) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Unsuitable Mainline Ind | Yes |
| Other Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Internal Inspection Details | A Pig Launcher Is Installed At Pls-4, Which Allows Inspection On L-300b Between Mp 256.65-298.96 (Pls-4 To Pls-5). However, The Section Of L-300b South Of Pls-4 Is Not Currently Piggable Due To Lack Of A Launcher/receiver And Plug Valves Requiring Replacement. |
| Operation Complications Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| Accident Identifier | Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations) |
| 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 | Scada-related equipment operated as intended |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Relief Valve Ind | Yes |
| Additional Vibration Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | C***** D**** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Engineer |
| Preparer Email | C***@p**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 925-328-5721 |
| Authorizer Name | L**** D******* |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Of Gas Operations Regulatory Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 925-328-5756 |
| Authorizer Email | L***@p**.com |
| Narrative | On january 7, 2015 at 1704 hours in arvin, an 8-inch pressure relief valve (at pressure limiting station,4-pls off of transmission line l-300b) opened prior to reaching its set point of 749 psig resulting in an unintentional release of natural gas to the atmosphere. The pressure in l-300b at the time the relief valve operated was 720 psig. The incident was identified on pg&e's scada system. In response, pg&e gas control remotely lowered the pressure in l-300b by lowering the setpoint of the upstream regulator to 675 psig, which allowed the pressure relief valve to close at 1710 hours. Pg&e personnel arrived on scene at 1745 hours and the valve's set point of 749 psig was tested and verified. Pg&e contracted a third party engineering firm to perform a root cause analysis and provide recommendations to the station. Pg&e implemented several modifications and is currently in the design phase to rebuild pls-4. Pg&e inspects and calibrates pressure relief valves (prv) as part of pg&e's routine maintenance program, which is designed to ensure the reliable operation of this equipment at pg&e's pressure limiting stations. No customers lost gas service during the incident. Pressure in l-300b did not exceed the maop of 757 psig. There were no injuries, no fatalities and no media observed on scene during the incident. On january 9, 2015, it was estimated that the volume of gas released exceeded 3 million cubic feet (mmcf), therefore the incident was reported to the national response center and the cpuc. (please note that the responses to part e, questions 5a, 5b, and 5c of this PHMSA 7100 report are merely placeholders and do not apply. Pg&e gas control remotely lowered the pressure in l-300b by lowering the setpoint of the upstream regulator, which allowed the pressure relief valve to close. The PHMSA 7100 report form does not allow these fields to be left blank.) |
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