Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2015-11-13 — CA
Operator
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Cause
Notification Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
1 fatality
2 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$642,000
Incident datetime
2015-11-13 15:33
Report number
Location
CA
Narrative
On november 13, 2015, pg&e's gas control center detected a backflow alarm via scada at 1533 hours on l-300a near wible rd & houghton rd. In bakersfield. A third-party excavator, jeff alexander/big n deep agricultural development, was performing agricultural work with heavy equipment, struck natural gas transmission line 300-a, causing an unintentional release of gas. The gas ignited resulting in one fatality and two injuries. Within 4 minutes of identifying the loss in pressure on l-300a, gas control initiated remote shut off of two mainline valves and isolated the pipeline by 1547 hours. Pg&e's first responders arrived on-site at 1604 hours and manually shut off valves v-267.26a and v-278.70a to isolate a smaller section of pipeline. The remaining gas within the pipeline burned until approximately 1630 hours. The valve closest to the incident, valve-270.85, was closed at 1700 hours once the fire was out and the equipment was cool enough to operate. The excavator did not hold a valid USA ticket. Fire and police department were on-site, and blocked off the area. Approximately ninety gas customers lost service as a result of the incident. Majority of the gas services were restored by 11/14/15 at 1500 hours. There were six to seven remaining customers that were either vacant or out-of-town. Service was restored to the out-of-town customers within a week following the incident. A nearby home and barn also sustained damages from the fire. Repairs to the pipe were completed on 11/20/15 at noon, x-rays were completed by 1330 hours, and the line was put back to normal operation at 1645 hours. Damages resulting from the incident are approximately $2.5 million and volume of gas unintentionally released is 67 mmcf. Media was reported on-site. Samples of the damaged pipe were retained and transported to a third party consulting firm for evaluation. The incident was reported to both the DOT and cpuc due to a fatality, injuries, and costs exceeding $50,000, volume of gas release exceeding 3 mmcf, subsequent ignition, media coverage, and transmission event.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-12-14 00:00:00
Iyear
2015
Report Number
20150148
Supplemental Number
16974
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
2015-11-13 15:32:00
Location Latitude
35.239381
Location Longitude
-119.039917
Nrc Rpt Num
1133387
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2015-11-13 16:42:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
67000
Intentional Release
0
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
1
Num Gp Fatalities
0
Fatal
1
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
2
Injure
2
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2015-11-13 15:44:00
Restart Datetime
2015-11-20 16:45:00
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
3
Incident Identified Datetime
2015-11-13 15:33:00
On Site Datetime
2015-11-13 16:04:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ca
Onshore Postal Code
93313
Onshore City Name
Bakersfield
Onshore County Name
Kern
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
Near V-270.85
Pipe Fac Name
L-300a
Segment Name
L-300a
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
36
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter
34
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.375
Pipe Smys
52000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l X-52
Pipe Seam Type
Dsaw
Pipe Manufacturer
Consolidated Western Steel
Pipe Coating Type
Asphalt
Installation Year
1954
Manufactured Year
1954
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Mechanical Puncture
Puncture Axial
2
Puncture Circum
2
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
646
Heat Damage Ind
Yes
Non Heat Damage Ind
Yes
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
1000000
Est Cost Unintentional Release
176000
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
642000
Est Cost Emergency
717000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
2535000
Accident Psig
660
Mop Psig
757
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Automatic
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Automatic
Length Segment Isolated
42240
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
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
Control room is not a cause or contributing factor to the incident. The control room functioned accordingly.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Prior Notification Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
Yes
Private Row Ind
Yes
Private Subtype
Private Landowner
Excavator Type
Farmer
Excavator Equipment
Farm Equipment
Work Performed
Agriculture
One Call Notified Ind
No
Service Interruption
Yes
Service Interruption Hours
25
Root Cause Category
Notification Issue
Root Cause Type
No Notification Made To The One-Call Center/811
Preparer Name
S****** R****
Preparer Title
Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
S***@p**.com
Preparer Telephone
925-328-6107
Authorizer Name
L**** D*******
Authorizer Title
Manager Of Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
925-328-5756
Authorizer Email
L***@p**.com
Narrative
On november 13, 2015, pg&e's gas control center detected a backflow alarm via scada at 1533 hours on l-300a near wible rd & houghton rd. In bakersfield. A third-party excavator, jeff alexander/big n deep agricultural development, was performing agricultural work with heavy equipment, struck natural gas transmission line 300-a, causing an unintentional release of gas. The gas ignited resulting in one fatality and two injuries. Within 4 minutes of identifying the loss in pressure on l-300a, gas control initiated remote shut off of two mainline valves and isolated the pipeline by 1547 hours. Pg&e's first responders arrived on-site at 1604 hours and manually shut off valves v-267.26a and v-278.70a to isolate a smaller section of pipeline. The remaining gas within the pipeline burned until approximately 1630 hours. The valve closest to the incident, valve-270.85, was closed at 1700 hours once the fire was out and the equipment was cool enough to operate. The excavator did not hold a valid USA ticket. Fire and police department were on-site, and blocked off the area. Approximately ninety gas customers lost service as a result of the incident. Majority of the gas services were restored by 11/14/15 at 1500 hours. There were six to seven remaining customers that were either vacant or out-of-town. Service was restored to the out-of-town customers within a week following the incident. A nearby home and barn also sustained damages from the fire. Repairs to the pipe were completed on 11/20/15 at noon, x-rays were completed by 1330 hours, and the line was put back to normal operation at 1645 hours. Damages resulting from the incident are approximately $2.5 million and volume of gas unintentionally released is 67 mmcf. Media was reported on-site. Samples of the damaged pipe were retained and transported to a third party consulting firm for evaluation. The incident was reported to both the DOT and cpuc due to a fatality, injuries, and costs exceeding $50,000, volume of gas release exceeding 3 mmcf, subsequent ignition, media coverage, and transmission event.
| Report Received Date | 2015-12-14 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2015 |
| Report Number | 20150148 |
| Supplemental Number | 16974 |
| 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 | 2015-11-13 15:32:00 |
| Location Latitude | 35.239381 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -119.039917 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1133387 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2015-11-13 16:42:00 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 67000 |
| Intentional Release | 0 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 1 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 0 |
| Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 2 |
| Injure | 2 |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2015-11-13 15:44:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2015-11-20 16:45:00 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 3 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2015-11-13 15:33:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2015-11-13 16:04:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ca |
| Onshore Postal Code | 93313 |
| Onshore City Name | Bakersfield |
| Onshore County Name | Kern |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | Near V-270.85 |
| Pipe Fac Name | L-300a |
| Segment Name | L-300a |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 36 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Body |
| Pipe Diameter | 34 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.375 |
| Pipe Smys | 52000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l X-52 |
| Pipe Seam Type | Dsaw |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Consolidated Western Steel |
| Pipe Coating Type | Asphalt |
| Installation Year | 1954 |
| Manufactured Year | 1954 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Mechanical Puncture |
| Puncture Axial | 2 |
| Puncture Circum | 2 |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 646 |
| Heat Damage Ind | Yes |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | Yes |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 1000000 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 176000 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 642000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 717000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 2535000 |
| Accident Psig | 660 |
| Mop Psig | 757 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Automatic |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Automatic |
| Length Segment Isolated | 42240 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | Yes |
| 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 | Control room is not a cause or contributing factor to the incident. The control room functioned accordingly. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Prior Notification Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | Yes |
| Private Row Ind | Yes |
| Private Subtype | Private Landowner |
| Excavator Type | Farmer |
| Excavator Equipment | Farm Equipment |
| Work Performed | Agriculture |
| One Call Notified Ind | No |
| Service Interruption | Yes |
| Service Interruption Hours | 25 |
| Root Cause Category | Notification Issue |
| Root Cause Type | No Notification Made To The One-Call Center/811 |
| Preparer Name | S****** R**** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Engineer |
| Preparer Email | S***@p**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 925-328-6107 |
| Authorizer Name | L**** D******* |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Of Regulatory Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 925-328-5756 |
| Authorizer Email | L***@p**.com |
| Narrative | On november 13, 2015, pg&e's gas control center detected a backflow alarm via scada at 1533 hours on l-300a near wible rd & houghton rd. In bakersfield. A third-party excavator, jeff alexander/big n deep agricultural development, was performing agricultural work with heavy equipment, struck natural gas transmission line 300-a, causing an unintentional release of gas. The gas ignited resulting in one fatality and two injuries. Within 4 minutes of identifying the loss in pressure on l-300a, gas control initiated remote shut off of two mainline valves and isolated the pipeline by 1547 hours. Pg&e's first responders arrived on-site at 1604 hours and manually shut off valves v-267.26a and v-278.70a to isolate a smaller section of pipeline. The remaining gas within the pipeline burned until approximately 1630 hours. The valve closest to the incident, valve-270.85, was closed at 1700 hours once the fire was out and the equipment was cool enough to operate. The excavator did not hold a valid USA ticket. Fire and police department were on-site, and blocked off the area. Approximately ninety gas customers lost service as a result of the incident. Majority of the gas services were restored by 11/14/15 at 1500 hours. There were six to seven remaining customers that were either vacant or out-of-town. Service was restored to the out-of-town customers within a week following the incident. A nearby home and barn also sustained damages from the fire. Repairs to the pipe were completed on 11/20/15 at noon, x-rays were completed by 1330 hours, and the line was put back to normal operation at 1645 hours. Damages resulting from the incident are approximately $2.5 million and volume of gas unintentionally released is 67 mmcf. Media was reported on-site. Samples of the damaged pipe were retained and transported to a third party consulting firm for evaluation. The incident was reported to both the DOT and cpuc due to a fatality, injuries, and costs exceeding $50,000, volume of gas release exceeding 3 mmcf, subsequent ignition, media coverage, and transmission event. |
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