Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2016-12-16 — AR
Operator
Black Hills Energy
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$22,114
Incident datetime
2016-12-16 16:00
Report number
Location
AR, WASHINGTON
Narrative
At 3:58 p.M. On december 16, 2016, on the northwest corner of the intersection of west kelli ave. And hwy 62 (main st.) in farmington, arkansas, a vehicle travelling west on hwy 62 left the roadway and struck a black hills energy arkansas, inc. ("bhea" or the "company") 2-inch post regulator setting that was connected to a 4-inch transmission pipeline. The regulator setting was located 28.5 feet from the curb of hwy 62. The impact of the car striking the setting broke two 2" x 1" swages on the high pressure side of the regulator and two 2" steel pipes on the intermediate pressure side of the regulator. The gas escaping from the broken portions of the regulator setting ignited immediately, resulting in a large fire. The first bhea employees arrived at the scene at 4:00 p.M. And 4:10 p.M., and started the process of isolating the effected segment of the company's system with the assistance of the farmington and fayetteville fire departments. The emergency shut off valve for the setting, which was located 21 feet from the setting, was inaccessible due to the size of the fire. Rather than stop the fire by completely shutting off the flow of gas to the portion of bhea's system in the area of the incident, which would have resulted in loss of service to hundreds of customers, bhea decided, based on all of the circumstances at the time of the incident, to take measures to reduce or stop the flow of gas to the isolated portion of its system feeding into the regulator setting in order to stop the fire while at the same time avoiding loss of service to its customers. This decision was made following discussions between bhea and the fire departments that responded to the scene, during which all parties agreed that there were no impending risks to human life or property, since the person that was apparently in the car that struck the regulator setting was either deceased prior to the car hitting the setting or died when the fire erupted*, the occupants of a nearby duplex that had caught fire had been safely evacuated, and no other lives were in danger. Regarding property, as mentioned, a duplex next to the regulator setting had caught fire almost immediately after the car hit the setting and the fire began, and it was quickly apparent that it could not be saved from total loss. There was no other imminent risk to property, given the fire was under control and was not spreading. In addition, bhea was aware that the weather was forecasted to turn very cold the following day, with temperatures forecasted to fall into the single digits by the following night, making any loss of gas service to customers all the more consequential. Because gas was feeding into the setting from four different directions, the process of isolating the flow of gas to the setting took several hours, and was completed at approximately 12:40 a.M. On the morning of saturday, december 17. After the fire departments completed their investigation of the damaged facilities, bhea began the process of replacing the setting in order to bring the segment of the system back into service, which took place at 1:15 p.M. On saturday, december 17. *there was apparently one person in the car at the time it hit the regulator setting. Following the incident, bone fragments from that person were found in the car. The incident is still under investigation, and as of the date of this report, neither the cause of death, nor the time of death (either before the incident or at the time of the incident) has been established. Until the results of the relevant authorities' investigations are released, bhea has stated on this report to PHMSA that there were no fatalities that resulted from the incident. Bhea will update this report once it receives further information.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2016-12-16 16:00:00
Year
2016
Report Received Date
2017-01-12 00:00:00
Iyear
2016.0
Report Number
20170004.0
Supplemental Number
16475.0
Report Type
Original
Operator Id
15359
Name
Black Hills Energy
Operator Street Address
655 East Millsap Rd Suite #104
Operator City Name
Fayetteville
Operator State Abbreviation
AR
Operator Postal Code
72703-1002
Local Datetime
2016-12-16 15:58:00
Location Street Address
N.w.corner W. Kelli Ave. And Hwy 62
Location City Name
Farmington
Location County Name
Washington
Location State Abbreviation
AR
Location Postal Code
72730-0000
Location Latitude
36.0387
Location Longitude
-94.2553
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2016-12-16 21:06:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1166574
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
2684.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
96.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2016-12-16 16:00:00
On Site Datetime
2016-12-16 16:00:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance (E.g. Value Or Regulator Station, Outdoor Meter Set)
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
District Regulator/metering Station
Installation Year
2006.0
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Wt Steel
0.156
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
2" Post Regulator Set Hit By Vehicle
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
105000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
22114.0
Est Cost Emergency
23430.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
10494.0
Prpty
161038.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
4.0
Accident Psig
285.0
Normal Psig
285.0
Mop Psig
415.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Emergency Responder
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
Incident was clearly caused by outside force damage
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Cause Details
Damage By Car, Truck, Or Other Motorized Vehicle/equipment Not Engaged In Excavation
Outside Force Type
Damage By Car, Truck, Or Other Motorized Vehicle/equipment Not Engaged In Excavation
Vehicle Subtype
Third Party
Preparer Name
P****** W*****
Preparer Title
Compliance Coordinator
Preparer Email
P*************@b*************.com
Preparer Telephone
479-575-1496
Authorizer Name
B*** S*******
Authorizer Title
Sr Manager Codes Standards
Authorizer Telephone
303-566-3509
Authorizer Email
B************@b*************.com
Narrative
At 3:58 p.M. On december 16, 2016, on the northwest corner of the intersection of west kelli ave. And hwy 62 (main st.) in farmington, arkansas, a vehicle travelling west on hwy 62 left the roadway and struck a black hills energy arkansas, inc. ("bhea" or the "company") 2-inch post regulator setting that was connected to a 4-inch transmission pipeline. The regulator setting was located 28.5 feet from the curb of hwy 62. The impact of the car striking the setting broke two 2" x 1" swages on the high pressure side of the regulator and two 2" steel pipes on the intermediate pressure side of the regulator. The gas escaping from the broken portions of the regulator setting ignited immediately, resulting in a large fire. The first bhea employees arrived at the scene at 4:00 p.M. And 4:10 p.M., and started the process of isolating the effected segment of the company's system with the assistance of the farmington and fayetteville fire departments. The emergency shut off valve for the setting, which was located 21 feet from the setting, was inaccessible due to the size of the fire. Rather than stop the fire by completely shutting off the flow of gas to the portion of bhea's system in the area of the incident, which would have resulted in loss of service to hundreds of customers, bhea decided, based on all of the circumstances at the time of the incident, to take measures to reduce or stop the flow of gas to the isolated portion of its system feeding into the regulator setting in order to stop the fire while at the same time avoiding loss of service to its customers. This decision was made following discussions between bhea and the fire departments that responded to the scene, during which all parties agreed that there were no impending risks to human life or property, since the person that was apparently in the car that struck the regulator setting was either deceased prior to the car hitting the setting or died when the fire erupted*, the occupants of a nearby duplex that had caught fire had been safely evacuated, and no other lives were in danger. Regarding property, as mentioned, a duplex next to the regulator setting had caught fire almost immediately after the car hit the setting and the fire began, and it was quickly apparent that it could not be saved from total loss. There was no other imminent risk to property, given the fire was under control and was not spreading. In addition, bhea was aware that the weather was forecasted to turn very cold the following day, with temperatures forecasted to fall into the single digits by the following night, making any loss of gas service to customers all the more consequential. Because gas was feeding into the setting from four different directions, the process of isolating the flow of gas to the setting took several hours, and was completed at approximately 12:40 a.M. On the morning of saturday, december 17. After the fire departments completed their investigation of the damaged facilities, bhea began the process of replacing the setting in order to bring the segment of the system back into service, which took place at 1:15 p.M. On saturday, december 17. *there was apparently one person in the car at the time it hit the regulator setting. Following the incident, bone fragments from that person were found in the car. The incident is still under investigation, and as of the date of this report, neither the cause of death, nor the time of death (either before the incident or at the time of the incident) has been established. Until the results of the relevant authorities' investigations are released, bhea has stated on this report to PHMSA that there were no fatalities that resulted from the incident. Bhea will update this report once it receives further information.
| Occurred At | 2016-12-16 16:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2016 |
| Report Received Date | 2017-01-12 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2016.0 |
| Report Number | 20170004.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16475.0 |
| Report Type | Original |
| Operator Id | 15359 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Black Hills Energy |
| Operator Street Address | 655 East Millsap Rd Suite #104 |
| Operator City Name | Fayetteville |
| Operator State Abbreviation | AR |
| Operator Postal Code | 72703-1002 |
| Local Datetime | 2016-12-16 15:58:00 |
| Location Street Address | N.w.corner W. Kelli Ave. And Hwy 62 |
| Location City Name | Farmington |
| Location County Name | Washington |
| Location State Abbreviation | AR |
| Location Postal Code | 72730-0000 |
| Location Latitude | 36.0387 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -94.2553 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2016-12-16 21:06:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1166574 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 2684.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 96.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2016-12-16 16:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2016-12-16 16:00:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance (E.g. Value Or Regulator Station, Outdoor Meter Set) |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | District Regulator/metering Station |
| Installation Year | 2006.0 |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Unknown |
| Wt Steel | 0.156 |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | 2" Post Regulator Set Hit By Vehicle |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 105000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 22114.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 23430.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 10494.0 |
| Prpty | 161038.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 4.0 |
| Accident Psig | 285.0 |
| Normal Psig | 285.0 |
| Mop Psig | 415.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| 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 | Incident was clearly caused by outside force damage |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Damage By Car, Truck, Or Other Motorized Vehicle/equipment Not Engaged In Excavation |
| Outside Force Type | Damage By Car, Truck, Or Other Motorized Vehicle/equipment Not Engaged In Excavation |
| Vehicle Subtype | Third Party |
| Preparer Name | P****** W***** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Coordinator |
| Preparer Email | P*************@b*************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 479-575-1496 |
| Authorizer Name | B*** S******* |
| Authorizer Title | Sr Manager Codes Standards |
| Authorizer Telephone | 303-566-3509 |
| Authorizer Email | B************@b*************.com |
| Narrative | At 3:58 p.M. On december 16, 2016, on the northwest corner of the intersection of west kelli ave. And hwy 62 (main st.) in farmington, arkansas, a vehicle travelling west on hwy 62 left the roadway and struck a black hills energy arkansas, inc. ("bhea" or the "company") 2-inch post regulator setting that was connected to a 4-inch transmission pipeline. The regulator setting was located 28.5 feet from the curb of hwy 62. The impact of the car striking the setting broke two 2" x 1" swages on the high pressure side of the regulator and two 2" steel pipes on the intermediate pressure side of the regulator. The gas escaping from the broken portions of the regulator setting ignited immediately, resulting in a large fire. The first bhea employees arrived at the scene at 4:00 p.M. And 4:10 p.M., and started the process of isolating the effected segment of the company's system with the assistance of the farmington and fayetteville fire departments. The emergency shut off valve for the setting, which was located 21 feet from the setting, was inaccessible due to the size of the fire. Rather than stop the fire by completely shutting off the flow of gas to the portion of bhea's system in the area of the incident, which would have resulted in loss of service to hundreds of customers, bhea decided, based on all of the circumstances at the time of the incident, to take measures to reduce or stop the flow of gas to the isolated portion of its system feeding into the regulator setting in order to stop the fire while at the same time avoiding loss of service to its customers. This decision was made following discussions between bhea and the fire departments that responded to the scene, during which all parties agreed that there were no impending risks to human life or property, since the person that was apparently in the car that struck the regulator setting was either deceased prior to the car hitting the setting or died when the fire erupted*, the occupants of a nearby duplex that had caught fire had been safely evacuated, and no other lives were in danger. Regarding property, as mentioned, a duplex next to the regulator setting had caught fire almost immediately after the car hit the setting and the fire began, and it was quickly apparent that it could not be saved from total loss. There was no other imminent risk to property, given the fire was under control and was not spreading. In addition, bhea was aware that the weather was forecasted to turn very cold the following day, with temperatures forecasted to fall into the single digits by the following night, making any loss of gas service to customers all the more consequential. Because gas was feeding into the setting from four different directions, the process of isolating the flow of gas to the setting took several hours, and was completed at approximately 12:40 a.M. On the morning of saturday, december 17. After the fire departments completed their investigation of the damaged facilities, bhea began the process of replacing the setting in order to bring the segment of the system back into service, which took place at 1:15 p.M. On saturday, december 17. *there was apparently one person in the car at the time it hit the regulator setting. Following the incident, bone fragments from that person were found in the car. The incident is still under investigation, and as of the date of this report, neither the cause of death, nor the time of death (either before the incident or at the time of the incident) has been established. Until the results of the relevant authorities' investigations are released, bhea has stated on this report to PHMSA that there were no fatalities that resulted from the incident. Bhea will update this report once it receives further information. |
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