Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2016-08-18 — LA
Operator
Entergy New Orleans, Inc
Cause
Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
2 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$26,000
Incident datetime
2016-08-18 13:10
Report number
Location
LA, ORLEANS
Narrative
Over the past several years, entergy fossil group had deactivated its three existing electric generation units at the michoud power plant in eastern new orleans. In early 2016, entergy fossil group requested enoi gas operations to physically separate the two gas services that delivered gas from the enoi distribution main on paris rd to the generating units from the power plant. All gas work was performed by enoi gas operation personnel. The scope of work was to close the service valves serving the plant, purge the service lines, cut and weld a steel cap on both the upstream and downstream ends to provide physical separation. Initial work was on the 20 inch line feeding michoud units 1 and 2. Primary work onsite was: 1. Excavating the service to gain access to the line. Excavation dimensions were approximately 8 feet wide by 15 feet long by 8 feet deep to allow for complete 360� access to service. 2. Purging the service line with inert gas, and then gapping the service to isolate the downstream segment into the plant. 3. Welding steel caps on both sides of the new gap. 4. Opening the service valve to re-pressurize the service line upstream of the gap. Within 3 minutes of having the upstream valve fully open, the pressure release occurred (13:10 cst). Approximately 10 feet upstream of the excavation, the gapped service segment was blown out of a strapped style 40 dresser coupling. The service valve was closed within 7 minutes. The result of the blowout buckled and cracked concrete roadway, blew all the dirt underneath roadway and downstream of the coupling into and out of the excavation. Seven employees received minor injuries and were treated and released. Two employees received injuries severe enough to require hospitalization for an extended period. Phmsa state partner, la dnr, office of conservation, pipeline division was notified at 14:05 cst that the incident had occurred, which was within one hour of first knowledge of the gas release. Entergy notified PHMSA via the national response center at 18:26 cst when it became apparent the event met the requirements of an 'incident'. Entergy submitted the required incident report and originally classified the event as 'other' but upon further investigation and gathering more facts, re-classified the cause as pipe, weld, or joint failure (mechanical fitting failure).
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2016-08-18 13:10:00
Year
2016
Report Received Date
2016-09-19 00:00:00
Iyear
2016.0
Report Number
20160090.0
Supplemental Number
16458.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
13360
Name
Entergy New Orleans, Inc
Operator Street Address
3700 Tulane Avenue L-Tul-111
Operator City Name
New Orleans
Operator State Abbreviation
LA
Operator Postal Code
70119
Local Datetime
2016-08-18 13:10:00
Location Street Address
12425 Old Gentilly Road
Location City Name
New Orleans
Location County Name
Orleans
Location State Abbreviation
LA
Location Postal Code
70129
Location Latitude
30.007362
Location Longitude
-89.938851
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2016-08-18 18:26:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1156669
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1795.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
2
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
2
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2016-08-18 13:10:00
On Site Datetime
2016-08-18 13:10:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Pavement
Depth Of Cover
72.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Service
Installation Year
1964.0
Pipe Diameter
20.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Wt Steel
0.375
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Sudden High Pressure Gas Release Due To Pipe Blowing Out Of A Mechanical Coupling After Service Line Was Cut And Capped To Isolate Feed To A Decommissioned Power Plant. There Was No Ignition And No Explosion.
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
26000.0
Est Cost Emergency
0.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Other Details
All Estimates Included In 2b. The Original Estimate Of 75,000 Was Overstated.
Est Cost Unintentional Release
6565.0
Prpty
32565.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
123.0
Normal Psig
125.0
Mop Psig
149.0
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
Other
Accident Details
Employees On Site Working On The Service Line When The Incident Occured.
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
Cause is under investigation but the c&m personnel on the scene performing the work were the cause of or a contributing factor to the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
11
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Cause Details
Mechanical Joint Failure
Pwjf Failure Type
Mechanical Joint Failure
Mec Fitting Involved
Bolted
Mec Fitting Type
Coupling
Mec Manufacturer
Dresser
Mec Fitting Material
Other
Mec Fitting Material Detail
Materials Joined: 1st Steel, 2nd Steel
Additional Other Ind
Yes
Additional Factor Details
20 Inch Diameter Pipe Segment Blew Out Of A Coupling After The Pipe Was Gapped Downstream Of The Coupling. Coupling Was Constrained And Anchored Prior To Being Gapped. Once Gap Segment Was Removed The Pipe Was No Longer Constrained And The Existing Anchoring Was Not Substantial Enough To Resist The Blow Out.
Result Design Ind
Yes
Hydrotest Conducted Ind
No
Preparer Name
L*** T H*****
Preparer Title
Senior Engineer - Regulatory Compliance
Preparer Email
L******@e******.com
Preparer Telephone
504-595-3722
Preparer Fax
504-593-3440
Authorizer Name
D**** B P*******
Authorizer Title
Manager - Engineering And Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
504-595-3725
Authorizer Email
D******@e******.com
Narrative
Over the past several years, entergy fossil group had deactivated its three existing electric generation units at the michoud power plant in eastern new orleans. In early 2016, entergy fossil group requested enoi gas operations to physically separate the two gas services that delivered gas from the enoi distribution main on paris rd to the generating units from the power plant. All gas work was performed by enoi gas operation personnel. The scope of work was to close the service valves serving the plant, purge the service lines, cut and weld a steel cap on both the upstream and downstream ends to provide physical separation. Initial work was on the 20 inch line feeding michoud units 1 and 2. Primary work onsite was: 1. Excavating the service to gain access to the line. Excavation dimensions were approximately 8 feet wide by 15 feet long by 8 feet deep to allow for complete 360� access to service. 2. Purging the service line with inert gas, and then gapping the service to isolate the downstream segment into the plant. 3. Welding steel caps on both sides of the new gap. 4. Opening the service valve to re-pressurize the service line upstream of the gap. Within 3 minutes of having the upstream valve fully open, the pressure release occurred (13:10 cst). Approximately 10 feet upstream of the excavation, the gapped service segment was blown out of a strapped style 40 dresser coupling. The service valve was closed within 7 minutes. The result of the blowout buckled and cracked concrete roadway, blew all the dirt underneath roadway and downstream of the coupling into and out of the excavation. Seven employees received minor injuries and were treated and released. Two employees received injuries severe enough to require hospitalization for an extended period. Phmsa state partner, la dnr, office of conservation, pipeline division was notified at 14:05 cst that the incident had occurred, which was within one hour of first knowledge of the gas release. Entergy notified PHMSA via the national response center at 18:26 cst when it became apparent the event met the requirements of an 'incident'. Entergy submitted the required incident report and originally classified the event as 'other' but upon further investigation and gathering more facts, re-classified the cause as pipe, weld, or joint failure (mechanical fitting failure).
| Occurred At | 2016-08-18 13:10:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2016 |
| Report Received Date | 2016-09-19 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2016.0 |
| Report Number | 20160090.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16458.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 13360 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Entergy New Orleans, Inc |
| Operator Street Address | 3700 Tulane Avenue L-Tul-111 |
| Operator City Name | New Orleans |
| Operator State Abbreviation | LA |
| Operator Postal Code | 70119 |
| Local Datetime | 2016-08-18 13:10:00 |
| Location Street Address | 12425 Old Gentilly Road |
| Location City Name | New Orleans |
| Location County Name | Orleans |
| Location State Abbreviation | LA |
| Location Postal Code | 70129 |
| Location Latitude | 30.007362 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -89.938851 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2016-08-18 18:26:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1156669 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 1795.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 2 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 2 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2016-08-18 13:10:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2016-08-18 13:10:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Pavement |
| Depth Of Cover | 72.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Service |
| Installation Year | 1964.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 20.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Unknown |
| Wt Steel | 0.375 |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Sudden High Pressure Gas Release Due To Pipe Blowing Out Of A Mechanical Coupling After Service Line Was Cut And Capped To Isolate Feed To A Decommissioned Power Plant. There Was No Ignition And No Explosion. |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 26000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | All Estimates Included In 2b. The Original Estimate Of 75,000 Was Overstated. |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 6565.0 |
| Prpty | 32565.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 123.0 |
| Normal Psig | 125.0 |
| Mop Psig | 149.0 |
| 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 | Other |
| Accident Details | Employees On Site Working On The Service Line When The Incident Occured. |
| 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 | Cause is under investigation but the c&m personnel on the scene performing the work were the cause of or a contributing factor to the incident |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 11 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure |
| Cause Details | Mechanical Joint Failure |
| Pwjf Failure Type | Mechanical Joint Failure |
| Mec Fitting Involved | Bolted |
| Mec Fitting Type | Coupling |
| Mec Manufacturer | Dresser |
| Mec Fitting Material | Other |
| Mec Fitting Material Detail | Materials Joined: 1st Steel, 2nd Steel |
| Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Additional Factor Details | 20 Inch Diameter Pipe Segment Blew Out Of A Coupling After The Pipe Was Gapped Downstream Of The Coupling. Coupling Was Constrained And Anchored Prior To Being Gapped. Once Gap Segment Was Removed The Pipe Was No Longer Constrained And The Existing Anchoring Was Not Substantial Enough To Resist The Blow Out. |
| Result Design Ind | Yes |
| Hydrotest Conducted Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | L*** T H***** |
| Preparer Title | Senior Engineer - Regulatory Compliance |
| Preparer Email | L******@e******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 504-595-3722 |
| Preparer Fax | 504-593-3440 |
| Authorizer Name | D**** B P******* |
| Authorizer Title | Manager - Engineering And Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 504-595-3725 |
| Authorizer Email | D******@e******.com |
| Narrative | Over the past several years, entergy fossil group had deactivated its three existing electric generation units at the michoud power plant in eastern new orleans. In early 2016, entergy fossil group requested enoi gas operations to physically separate the two gas services that delivered gas from the enoi distribution main on paris rd to the generating units from the power plant. All gas work was performed by enoi gas operation personnel. The scope of work was to close the service valves serving the plant, purge the service lines, cut and weld a steel cap on both the upstream and downstream ends to provide physical separation. Initial work was on the 20 inch line feeding michoud units 1 and 2. Primary work onsite was: 1. Excavating the service to gain access to the line. Excavation dimensions were approximately 8 feet wide by 15 feet long by 8 feet deep to allow for complete 360� access to service. 2. Purging the service line with inert gas, and then gapping the service to isolate the downstream segment into the plant. 3. Welding steel caps on both sides of the new gap. 4. Opening the service valve to re-pressurize the service line upstream of the gap. Within 3 minutes of having the upstream valve fully open, the pressure release occurred (13:10 cst). Approximately 10 feet upstream of the excavation, the gapped service segment was blown out of a strapped style 40 dresser coupling. The service valve was closed within 7 minutes. The result of the blowout buckled and cracked concrete roadway, blew all the dirt underneath roadway and downstream of the coupling into and out of the excavation. Seven employees received minor injuries and were treated and released. Two employees received injuries severe enough to require hospitalization for an extended period. Phmsa state partner, la dnr, office of conservation, pipeline division was notified at 14:05 cst that the incident had occurred, which was within one hour of first knowledge of the gas release. Entergy notified PHMSA via the national response center at 18:26 cst when it became apparent the event met the requirements of an 'incident'. Entergy submitted the required incident report and originally classified the event as 'other' but upon further investigation and gathering more facts, re-classified the cause as pipe, weld, or joint failure (mechanical fitting failure). |
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