Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2017-12-22 — PA
Operator
Ugi Penn Natural Gas
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$21,900
Incident datetime
2017-12-22 20:52
Report number
Location
PA, LUZERNE
Narrative
~this is a supplemental report being submitted. The time the incident occured in question a.4 has been updated to the time and date the stopper fitting failed. Also, question a.6 was changed to original nrc report number and not the updated number received when ugi provided an update. ~ based on questions raised by PHMSA, a supplemental report is being filed. Ugi employees were performing a stopping operation on a high pressure gas main using an existing bottom out fitting. The stopping operation was being performed to abandon a section of main that was replaced. A bottom out stopper fitting was used to stop the flow of gas from the bottom of stopper fitting. After performing the stopping operation, and observing a 30 minute wait period to ensure proper stop off, a 3 foot section of the 10" main was removed. While preparing to weld on a 10" cap, gas was detected bypassing the stopper. An employee tried to tighten the stopper, and the stopper dislodged resulting in a release of gas. Later the employee complained of shoulder pain and was taken to the emergency room. He was admitted overnight and then released. After review, it was determined that ugi procedures and the manufacturer instructions were not followed. The stopper that was selected was only designed to stop flow from above the stopper, and should not have been used to stop the flow of gas coming from below the stopper. Ugi is issuing a companywide advisory to prevent reoccurrence of a similar incident.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2017-12-22 20:52:00
Year
2017
Report Received Date
2018-01-18 00:00:00
Iyear
2017.0
Report Number
20180011.0
Supplemental Number
16795.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15259
Name
Ugi Penn Natural Gas
Operator Street Address
1 Ugi Drive
Operator City Name
Denver
Operator State Abbreviation
PA
Operator Postal Code
17517
Local Datetime
2017-12-22 20:52:00
Location Street Address
41 Spring St
Location City Name
Wilkes-Barre
Location County Name
Luzerne
Location State Abbreviation
PA
Location Postal Code
18702
Location Latitude
41.24539978
Location Longitude
-75.86124569
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2017-12-23 02:34:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1200395
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
834.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
1
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
1
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2017-12-22 20:52:00
On Site Datetime
2017-12-22 20:52:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
36.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Other
System Part Details
10" Bottom Out Fitting
Installation Year
2015.0
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Smaw
Wt Steel
0.365
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
The Stopper Fitting Dislodged While Under Pressure Resulting In A Release Of Natural Gas.
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
21900.0
Est Cost Emergency
3500.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
2000.0
Prpty
27400.0
Commercial Affected
67.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
24.0
Accident Psig
162.0
Normal Psig
162.0
Mop Psig
282.0
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
Yes
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
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
The incident was not related to the controller or control room.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
3
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Wrong Equipment Specified Or Installed
Operation Type
Wrong Equipment Specified Or Installed
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
J*** T*****
Preparer Title
Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
J******@u**.com
Preparer Telephone
7176754606
Authorizer Name
K**** B*****
Authorizer Title
Vp Engineering And Operations Support
Authorizer Telephone
610-796-3601
Authorizer Email
K******@u**.com
Narrative
~this is a supplemental report being submitted. The time the incident occured in question a.4 has been updated to the time and date the stopper fitting failed. Also, question a.6 was changed to original nrc report number and not the updated number received when ugi provided an update. ~ based on questions raised by PHMSA, a supplemental report is being filed. Ugi employees were performing a stopping operation on a high pressure gas main using an existing bottom out fitting. The stopping operation was being performed to abandon a section of main that was replaced. A bottom out stopper fitting was used to stop the flow of gas from the bottom of stopper fitting. After performing the stopping operation, and observing a 30 minute wait period to ensure proper stop off, a 3 foot section of the 10" main was removed. While preparing to weld on a 10" cap, gas was detected bypassing the stopper. An employee tried to tighten the stopper, and the stopper dislodged resulting in a release of gas. Later the employee complained of shoulder pain and was taken to the emergency room. He was admitted overnight and then released. After review, it was determined that ugi procedures and the manufacturer instructions were not followed. The stopper that was selected was only designed to stop flow from above the stopper, and should not have been used to stop the flow of gas coming from below the stopper. Ugi is issuing a companywide advisory to prevent reoccurrence of a similar incident.
| Occurred At | 2017-12-22 20:52:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2017 |
| Report Received Date | 2018-01-18 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2017.0 |
| Report Number | 20180011.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16795.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15259 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Ugi Penn Natural Gas |
| Operator Street Address | 1 Ugi Drive |
| Operator City Name | Denver |
| Operator State Abbreviation | PA |
| Operator Postal Code | 17517 |
| Local Datetime | 2017-12-22 20:52:00 |
| Location Street Address | 41 Spring St |
| Location City Name | Wilkes-Barre |
| Location County Name | Luzerne |
| Location State Abbreviation | PA |
| Location Postal Code | 18702 |
| Location Latitude | 41.24539978 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -75.86124569 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2017-12-23 02:34:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1200395 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 834.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 1 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 1 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2017-12-22 20:52:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2017-12-22 20:52:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Depth Of Cover | 36.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Other |
| System Part Details | 10" Bottom Out Fitting |
| Installation Year | 2015.0 |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Smaw |
| Wt Steel | 0.365 |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | The Stopper Fitting Dislodged While Under Pressure Resulting In A Release Of Natural Gas. |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 21900.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 3500.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 2000.0 |
| Prpty | 27400.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 67.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 24.0 |
| Accident Psig | 162.0 |
| Normal Psig | 162.0 |
| Mop Psig | 282.0 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| 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 | The incident was not related to the controller or control room. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 3 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Wrong Equipment Specified Or Installed |
| Operation Type | Wrong Equipment Specified Or Installed |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Construction |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | J*** T***** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Engineer |
| Preparer Email | J******@u**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 7176754606 |
| Authorizer Name | K**** B***** |
| Authorizer Title | Vp Engineering And Operations Support |
| Authorizer Telephone | 610-796-3601 |
| Authorizer Email | K******@u**.com |
| Narrative | ~this is a supplemental report being submitted. The time the incident occured in question a.4 has been updated to the time and date the stopper fitting failed. Also, question a.6 was changed to original nrc report number and not the updated number received when ugi provided an update. ~ based on questions raised by PHMSA, a supplemental report is being filed. Ugi employees were performing a stopping operation on a high pressure gas main using an existing bottom out fitting. The stopping operation was being performed to abandon a section of main that was replaced. A bottom out stopper fitting was used to stop the flow of gas from the bottom of stopper fitting. After performing the stopping operation, and observing a 30 minute wait period to ensure proper stop off, a 3 foot section of the 10" main was removed. While preparing to weld on a 10" cap, gas was detected bypassing the stopper. An employee tried to tighten the stopper, and the stopper dislodged resulting in a release of gas. Later the employee complained of shoulder pain and was taken to the emergency room. He was admitted overnight and then released. After review, it was determined that ugi procedures and the manufacturer instructions were not followed. The stopper that was selected was only designed to stop flow from above the stopper, and should not have been used to stop the flow of gas coming from below the stopper. Ugi is issuing a companywide advisory to prevent reoccurrence of a similar incident. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA