GD incident on 2016-10-06 — TX

Operator
Sunray Utilities System
Cause
Other Incident Cause
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 3 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$200
Incident datetime
2016-10-06 14:45
Report number
Location
TX, MOORE
Narrative
Employee operators were repairing a grade 3 leak located on a 2 inch natural gas steel line that was under approximately 24 psig of pressure. This repair was an approximate 8 foot section where polyethylene replacement pipe was being joined with compression fittings. The line flash fired when the poly pipe was in place but not yet joined to the steel pipe. When the flash fire occurred there were three employee operators in the exposed excavation that were burned. All three workers were transported for inpatient hospitalization treatment at a regional burn center via air ambulances. The texas state fire marshall and regional representative from the texas railroad commission were called to the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates the possible ignition source of the natural gas to be static electricity. Moving forward the operator plans to reduce the risks of this type of event from happening in the future by: 1) purchasing and utilizing line stopping equipment. 2) purchasing and utilizing fire resistant clothing during repairs. 3) having a safety officer present at gas line repairs to ensure the scene, operations, and procedures are being followed in an effort to mitigate risks for both workers and customers.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2016-10-06 14:45:00
Year
2016
Report Received Date
2016-10-27 00:00:00
Iyear
2016.0
Report Number
20160109.0
Supplemental Number
16429.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Sunray Utilities System
Operator Street Address
Po Box 250 / 415 Main St.
Operator City Name
Sunray
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
79086
Local Datetime
2016-10-06 14:53:00
Location Street Address
6th Street And Avenue K Alleyway
Location City Name
Sunray
Location County Name
Moore
Location State Abbreviation
TX
Location Postal Code
79086
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2016-10-06 15:10:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
7.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
3
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
3
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
12.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2016-10-06 14:45:00
On Site Datetime
2016-10-06 14:45:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
In Or Spanning An Open Ditch
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Municipally Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1937.0
Pipe Diameter
2.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Operators Were Repairing Grade 3 Leak Detected In Annual Gas Loss Audit.
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
200.0
Est Cost Emergency
10000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
20.0
Prpty
10220.0
Commercial Affected
66.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
668.0
Accident Psig
24.0
Normal Psig
24.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
1
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Other Incident Cause
Cause Details
Miscellaneous
Other Type
Miscellaneous
Misc Details
Employee Operators Were Repairing A Grade 3 Leak Located On A 2 Inch Natural Gas Steel Line That Was Under Approximately 24 Psig Of Pressure. This Repair Was An Approximate 8 Foot Section Where Polyethylene Replacement Pipe Was Being Joined With Compression Fittings. The Line Flash Fired When The Poly Pipe Was In Place But Not Yet Joined To The Steel Pipe.
Preparer Name
R***** D* R****
Preparer Title
City Manager
Preparer Email
R********@c***********.com
Preparer Telephone
806-948-4111
Preparer Fax
806-948-4485
Authorizer Name
R***** D* R****
Authorizer Title
City Manager
Authorizer Telephone
806-948-4111
Authorizer Email
R********@c***********.com
Narrative
Employee operators were repairing a grade 3 leak located on a 2 inch natural gas steel line that was under approximately 24 psig of pressure. This repair was an approximate 8 foot section where polyethylene replacement pipe was being joined with compression fittings. The line flash fired when the poly pipe was in place but not yet joined to the steel pipe. When the flash fire occurred there were three employee operators in the exposed excavation that were burned. All three workers were transported for inpatient hospitalization treatment at a regional burn center via air ambulances. The texas state fire marshall and regional representative from the texas railroad commission were called to the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates the possible ignition source of the natural gas to be static electricity. Moving forward the operator plans to reduce the risks of this type of event from happening in the future by: 1) purchasing and utilizing line stopping equipment. 2) purchasing and utilizing fire resistant clothing during repairs. 3) having a safety officer present at gas line repairs to ensure the scene, operations, and procedures are being followed in an effort to mitigate risks for both workers and customers.
Occurred At 2016-10-06 14:45:00
Year 2016
Report Received Date 2016-10-27 00:00:00
Iyear 2016.0
Report Number 20160109.0
Supplemental Number 16429.0
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 18736 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Sunray Utilities System
Operator Street Address Po Box 250 / 415 Main St.
Operator City Name Sunray
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 79086
Local Datetime 2016-10-06 14:53:00
Location Street Address 6th Street And Avenue K Alleyway
Location City Name Sunray
Location County Name Moore
Location State Abbreviation TX
Location Postal Code 79086
Location Latitude 36.018809 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -101.827624 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2016-10-06 15:10:00
Nrc Rpt Num 1160949 NRC Report How to search
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
Unintentional Release 7.0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind Yes
Num Emp Injuries 3
Num Contr Injuries 0
Num Er Injuries 0
Num Worker Injuries 0
Num Gp Injuries 0
Injure 3
Ignite Ind Yes
Explode Ind No
Num Pub Evacuated 12.0
Incident Identified Datetime 2016-10-06 14:45:00
On Site Datetime 2016-10-06 14:45:00
Federal No
Location Type Public Property
Incident Area Type Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype In Or Spanning An Open Ditch
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Municipally Owned
System Part Involved Main
Installation Year 1937.0
Pipe Diameter 2.0
Pipe Specification Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer Unknown
Material Involved Steel
Steel Seam Type Other
Steel Seam Type Details Unknown
Release Type Other
Release Type Details Operators Were Repairing Grade 3 Leak Detected In Annual Gas Loss Audit.
Class Location Type Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid 0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage 200.0
Est Cost Emergency 10000.0
Est Cost Other 0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 20.0
Prpty 10220.0
Commercial Affected 66.0
Industrial Affected 0.0
Residences Affected 668.0
Accident Psig 24.0
Normal Psig 24.0
Mop Psig 60.0
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind No
Accident Identifier Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type Operator Employee
Investigation Status No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind Yes
Num Employees Tested 1
Num Employees Failed 0
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Other Incident Cause
Cause Details Miscellaneous
Other Type Miscellaneous
Misc Details Employee Operators Were Repairing A Grade 3 Leak Located On A 2 Inch Natural Gas Steel Line That Was Under Approximately 24 Psig Of Pressure. This Repair Was An Approximate 8 Foot Section Where Polyethylene Replacement Pipe Was Being Joined With Compression Fittings. The Line Flash Fired When The Poly Pipe Was In Place But Not Yet Joined To The Steel Pipe.
Preparer Name R***** D* R****
Preparer Title City Manager
Preparer Email R********@c***********.com
Preparer Telephone 806-948-4111
Preparer Fax 806-948-4485
Authorizer Name R***** D* R****
Authorizer Title City Manager
Authorizer Telephone 806-948-4111
Authorizer Email R********@c***********.com
Narrative Employee operators were repairing a grade 3 leak located on a 2 inch natural gas steel line that was under approximately 24 psig of pressure. This repair was an approximate 8 foot section where polyethylene replacement pipe was being joined with compression fittings. The line flash fired when the poly pipe was in place but not yet joined to the steel pipe. When the flash fire occurred there were three employee operators in the exposed excavation that were burned. All three workers were transported for inpatient hospitalization treatment at a regional burn center via air ambulances. The texas state fire marshall and regional representative from the texas railroad commission were called to the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates the possible ignition source of the natural gas to be static electricity. Moving forward the operator plans to reduce the risks of this type of event from happening in the future by: 1) purchasing and utilizing line stopping equipment. 2) purchasing and utilizing fire resistant clothing during repairs. 3) having a safety officer present at gas line repairs to ensure the scene, operations, and procedures are being followed in an effort to mitigate risks for both workers and customers.

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