Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2016-07-31 — LA
Operator
Centerpoint Energy Resources Corp.
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
1 fatality
1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$11,046
Incident datetime
2016-07-31 17:00
Report number
Location
LA, CADDO
Narrative
The initial post-incident investigation revealed erosion of soil and cave in of surface pavement around a sewer manhole discovered on may 6, 2016, which caused damage to the connection of a service line providing service to 2437 fairfield ave. This service line connection was repaired with the installation of a new service line and tap on may 6, 2016. This new service line and connection did not leak after may 6. There was no crack in the cast iron main at the time that the may 6 service line replacement was completed; the inspection at that time did not reveal a loss of support under the cast iron main. Service to 2437 fairfield was left off at the time of this repair due to customer not being home. On may 23, 2016 a centerpoint energy employee returned to restore service to this residence at the customer's request. During this restoration a bar hole inspection was made in which there was no evidence of a leak. On may 26, 2016 a centerpoint energy contract services inspector went back to site of the service line repair and performed a visual inspection, and at that time there was no indication of a leak. On july 31, 2016 at app. 16:18, centerpoint energy was notified and responded to two emergency calls reported at 2437 fairfield ave. An emergency leak investigation order and an emergency fire investigation order were created. Technician arrived at app. 16:53 to begin an investigation. During the investigation of july 31, gas was detected near the structure, after which telephonic reports were made to nrc and state regulatory officials. During ongoing investigation of the incident, a fracture was found august 2, 2016, on the cast iron main at a location of an adjacent steel service line tap, which was 2.8' away from the newly installed poly service line tap. Metallurgical inspection of january 18, 2017, showed that the pipe wall thickness/strength was well preserved without any graphitic corrosion beyond shallow surface corrosion. The metallurgical analysis and subsequent geotechnical investigation indicated that the pipe fractured due to a recent overload event occurring after a loss of support, most likely caused by loss of soil by water infiltration and erosion through the voids, cracks and openings around the various sewer line connections in the sewer manhole and on the manhole wall itself. The fracture occurred subsequent to the may 26, 2016 inspection and before the july 31, 2016 incident. The geotechnical investigation revealed that the cast-iron main line underwent deflections due to the occurrence of the loss of soil support from the soil caving, resulting in an undetected increase in stresses in the main pipe at the location of the connection of the steel service line where the crack occurred. The odor of natural gas was detected by persons present at the subject property on july 29, july 30 and the morning of july 31 without anyone contacting centerpoint before the fire occurred.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2016-07-31 17:00:00
Year
2016
Report Received Date
2016-08-29 00:00:00
Iyear
2016.0
Report Number
20160077.0
Supplemental Number
31541.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Centerpoint Energy Resources Corp.
Operator Street Address
10825 E Geddes Ave Suite 410
Operator City Name
Centennial
Operator State Abbreviation
CO
Operator Postal Code
80112
Local Datetime
2016-07-31 16:18:00
Location Street Address
2437 Fairfield Ave.
Location City Name
Shreveport
Location County Name
Caddo
Location State Abbreviation
LA
Location Postal Code
71103
Location Latitude
32.488265
Location Longitude
-93.749549
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2016-07-31 20:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1154972
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
0.27
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
1
Fatal
1
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
1
Injure
1
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2016-07-31 17:00:00
On Site Datetime
2016-07-31 16:53:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
54.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1911.0
Pipe Diameter
4.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Cast/wrought Iron
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
50000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
11046.0
Est Cost Emergency
1360.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
0.0
Prpty
62406.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
1.0
Accident Psig
0.5
Normal Psig
0.5
Mop Psig
1.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Emergency Responder
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Cause Details
Other Outside Force Damage
Outside Force Type
Other Outside Force Damage
Osf Other Details
The Metallurgical Analysis And Subsequent Geotechnical Investigation Indicated That The Pipe Fractured Due To A Recent Overload Event Occurring After A Loss Of Support, Most Likely Caused By Loss Of Soil By Water Infiltration And Erosion Through The Voids, Cracks And Openings Around The Various Sewer Line Connections In The Sewer Manhole And On The Manhole Wall Itself.
Preparer Name
J**** T*** H*****
Preparer Title
Operations Specialist
Preparer Email
J***********@c****************.com
Preparer Telephone
337-256-2161
Authorizer Name
B**** R* B****
Authorizer Title
Regional Operations Director
Authorizer Telephone
318-429-4495
Authorizer Email
B************@c****************.com
Narrative
The initial post-incident investigation revealed erosion of soil and cave in of surface pavement around a sewer manhole discovered on may 6, 2016, which caused damage to the connection of a service line providing service to 2437 fairfield ave. This service line connection was repaired with the installation of a new service line and tap on may 6, 2016. This new service line and connection did not leak after may 6. There was no crack in the cast iron main at the time that the may 6 service line replacement was completed; the inspection at that time did not reveal a loss of support under the cast iron main. Service to 2437 fairfield was left off at the time of this repair due to customer not being home. On may 23, 2016 a centerpoint energy employee returned to restore service to this residence at the customer's request. During this restoration a bar hole inspection was made in which there was no evidence of a leak. On may 26, 2016 a centerpoint energy contract services inspector went back to site of the service line repair and performed a visual inspection, and at that time there was no indication of a leak. On july 31, 2016 at app. 16:18, centerpoint energy was notified and responded to two emergency calls reported at 2437 fairfield ave. An emergency leak investigation order and an emergency fire investigation order were created. Technician arrived at app. 16:53 to begin an investigation. During the investigation of july 31, gas was detected near the structure, after which telephonic reports were made to nrc and state regulatory officials. During ongoing investigation of the incident, a fracture was found august 2, 2016, on the cast iron main at a location of an adjacent steel service line tap, which was 2.8' away from the newly installed poly service line tap. Metallurgical inspection of january 18, 2017, showed that the pipe wall thickness/strength was well preserved without any graphitic corrosion beyond shallow surface corrosion. The metallurgical analysis and subsequent geotechnical investigation indicated that the pipe fractured due to a recent overload event occurring after a loss of support, most likely caused by loss of soil by water infiltration and erosion through the voids, cracks and openings around the various sewer line connections in the sewer manhole and on the manhole wall itself. The fracture occurred subsequent to the may 26, 2016 inspection and before the july 31, 2016 incident. The geotechnical investigation revealed that the cast-iron main line underwent deflections due to the occurrence of the loss of soil support from the soil caving, resulting in an undetected increase in stresses in the main pipe at the location of the connection of the steel service line where the crack occurred. The odor of natural gas was detected by persons present at the subject property on july 29, july 30 and the morning of july 31 without anyone contacting centerpoint before the fire occurred.
| Occurred At | 2016-07-31 17:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2016 |
| Report Received Date | 2016-08-29 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2016.0 |
| Report Number | 20160077.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 31541.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 603 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Centerpoint Energy Resources Corp. |
| Operator Street Address | 10825 E Geddes Ave Suite 410 |
| Operator City Name | Centennial |
| Operator State Abbreviation | CO |
| Operator Postal Code | 80112 |
| Local Datetime | 2016-07-31 16:18:00 |
| Location Street Address | 2437 Fairfield Ave. |
| Location City Name | Shreveport |
| Location County Name | Caddo |
| Location State Abbreviation | LA |
| Location Postal Code | 71103 |
| Location Latitude | 32.488265 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -93.749549 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2016-07-31 20:30:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1154972 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 0.27 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 1 |
| Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 1 |
| Injure | 1 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2016-07-31 17:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2016-07-31 16:53:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 54.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1911.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 4.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Cast/wrought Iron |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 50000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 11046.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 1360.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 62406.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 1.0 |
| Accident Psig | 0.5 |
| Normal Psig | 0.5 |
| Mop Psig | 1.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Outside Force Type | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Osf Other Details | The Metallurgical Analysis And Subsequent Geotechnical Investigation Indicated That The Pipe Fractured Due To A Recent Overload Event Occurring After A Loss Of Support, Most Likely Caused By Loss Of Soil By Water Infiltration And Erosion Through The Voids, Cracks And Openings Around The Various Sewer Line Connections In The Sewer Manhole And On The Manhole Wall Itself. |
| Preparer Name | J**** T*** H***** |
| Preparer Title | Operations Specialist |
| Preparer Email | J***********@c****************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 337-256-2161 |
| Authorizer Name | B**** R* B**** |
| Authorizer Title | Regional Operations Director |
| Authorizer Telephone | 318-429-4495 |
| Authorizer Email | B************@c****************.com |
| Narrative | The initial post-incident investigation revealed erosion of soil and cave in of surface pavement around a sewer manhole discovered on may 6, 2016, which caused damage to the connection of a service line providing service to 2437 fairfield ave. This service line connection was repaired with the installation of a new service line and tap on may 6, 2016. This new service line and connection did not leak after may 6. There was no crack in the cast iron main at the time that the may 6 service line replacement was completed; the inspection at that time did not reveal a loss of support under the cast iron main. Service to 2437 fairfield was left off at the time of this repair due to customer not being home. On may 23, 2016 a centerpoint energy employee returned to restore service to this residence at the customer's request. During this restoration a bar hole inspection was made in which there was no evidence of a leak. On may 26, 2016 a centerpoint energy contract services inspector went back to site of the service line repair and performed a visual inspection, and at that time there was no indication of a leak. On july 31, 2016 at app. 16:18, centerpoint energy was notified and responded to two emergency calls reported at 2437 fairfield ave. An emergency leak investigation order and an emergency fire investigation order were created. Technician arrived at app. 16:53 to begin an investigation. During the investigation of july 31, gas was detected near the structure, after which telephonic reports were made to nrc and state regulatory officials. During ongoing investigation of the incident, a fracture was found august 2, 2016, on the cast iron main at a location of an adjacent steel service line tap, which was 2.8' away from the newly installed poly service line tap. Metallurgical inspection of january 18, 2017, showed that the pipe wall thickness/strength was well preserved without any graphitic corrosion beyond shallow surface corrosion. The metallurgical analysis and subsequent geotechnical investigation indicated that the pipe fractured due to a recent overload event occurring after a loss of support, most likely caused by loss of soil by water infiltration and erosion through the voids, cracks and openings around the various sewer line connections in the sewer manhole and on the manhole wall itself. The fracture occurred subsequent to the may 26, 2016 inspection and before the july 31, 2016 incident. The geotechnical investigation revealed that the cast-iron main line underwent deflections due to the occurrence of the loss of soil support from the soil caving, resulting in an undetected increase in stresses in the main pipe at the location of the connection of the steel service line where the crack occurred. The odor of natural gas was detected by persons present at the subject property on july 29, july 30 and the morning of july 31 without anyone contacting centerpoint before the fire occurred. |
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