GD incident on 2018-04-27 — MI

Operator
Consumers Energy Co
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$800
Incident datetime
2018-04-27 14:56
Report number
Location
MI, OAKLAND
Narrative
On friday, april 27, 2018 at approximately 14:46 a consumers energy gas service worker arrived at 58 bobolink street, rochester hills, mi to perform a routine meter exchange. While attempting to remove the existing meter using wrenching tools, the gsw heard hissing and noticed the riser had been compromised and gas was escaping. The employee returned to his vehicle and notified gas dispatch a distribution crew was needed. He also notified his field leader. Upon return to the meter location the gsw observed fire at the residence. He immediately evacuated the residents from a neighboring home and advised dispatch the escaping gas had ignited and fire personnel was needed onsite. The gas distribution crew arrived at approximately 15:31, excavated a remote hole near the distribution pipeline and squeezed the 1/2" steel service line stopping the blowing gas at approximately 16:25. A root cause analysis team has been assembled to investigate the failure, identify a root cause(s) and develop countermeasure(s) to minimize re-occurrence. The investigation was completed and the root cause was determined to be the corrosive condition of the meter and the employee's failure to recognize the meter condition and take adequate precautions to eliminate the potential for a gas release. Countermeasures to minimize future occurrence include a gas service manual revision requiring employees to inspect the riser condition before replacing the gas meter and actions to be taken when atmospheric corrosion is identified to avoid damage that may result in a release of gas.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2018-04-27 14:56:00
Year
2018
Report Received Date
2018-05-25 00:00:00
Iyear
2018.0
Report Number
20180059.0
Supplemental Number
31057.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Consumers Energy Co
Operator Street Address
One Energy Plaza
Operator City Name
Jackson
Operator State Abbreviation
MI
Operator Postal Code
49201
Local Datetime
2018-04-27 14:56:00
Location Street Address
58 Bobolink Street
Location City Name
Rochester Hills
Location County Name
Oakland
Location State Abbreviation
MI
Location Postal Code
48309
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2018-04-27 16:38:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
3.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
2.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2018-04-27 14:56:00
On Site Datetime
2018-04-27 14:56:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Private Property
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
Service Riser
Installation Year
1969.0
Material Involved
Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
55000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
800.0
Est Cost Emergency
3850.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
10.0
Prpty
59660.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
1.0
Accident Psig
54.0
Normal Psig
54.0
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 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 immediately identified by the operator employee working onsite
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
1
Num Employees Failed
0
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 Employee Was Performing An Routine Meter Exchange. While Attempting To Removing The Existing Meter Using Wrenching Tools, The Riser Snapped Causing Gas To Be Released From The Riser.
Preparer Name
C******* K***
Preparer Title
Senior Engineering Technical Analyst Ii
Preparer Email
C***********@g****.com
Preparer Telephone
989-280-2963
Authorizer Name
J**** P****
Authorizer Title
Senior Engineering Techinical Analyst Lead
Authorizer Telephone
989-791-5749
Authorizer Email
J**********@c********.com
Narrative
On friday, april 27, 2018 at approximately 14:46 a consumers energy gas service worker arrived at 58 bobolink street, rochester hills, mi to perform a routine meter exchange. While attempting to remove the existing meter using wrenching tools, the gsw heard hissing and noticed the riser had been compromised and gas was escaping. The employee returned to his vehicle and notified gas dispatch a distribution crew was needed. He also notified his field leader. Upon return to the meter location the gsw observed fire at the residence. He immediately evacuated the residents from a neighboring home and advised dispatch the escaping gas had ignited and fire personnel was needed onsite. The gas distribution crew arrived at approximately 15:31, excavated a remote hole near the distribution pipeline and squeezed the 1/2" steel service line stopping the blowing gas at approximately 16:25. A root cause analysis team has been assembled to investigate the failure, identify a root cause(s) and develop countermeasure(s) to minimize re-occurrence. The investigation was completed and the root cause was determined to be the corrosive condition of the meter and the employee's failure to recognize the meter condition and take adequate precautions to eliminate the potential for a gas release. Countermeasures to minimize future occurrence include a gas service manual revision requiring employees to inspect the riser condition before replacing the gas meter and actions to be taken when atmospheric corrosion is identified to avoid damage that may result in a release of gas.
Occurred At 2018-04-27 14:56:00
Year 2018
Report Received Date 2018-05-25 00:00:00
Iyear 2018.0
Report Number 20180059.0
Supplemental Number 31057.0
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 2748 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Consumers Energy Co
Operator Street Address One Energy Plaza
Operator City Name Jackson
Operator State Abbreviation MI
Operator Postal Code 49201
Local Datetime 2018-04-27 14:56:00
Location Street Address 58 Bobolink Street
Location City Name Rochester Hills
Location County Name Oakland
Location State Abbreviation MI
Location Postal Code 48309
Location Latitude 42.637704 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -83.18579 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2018-04-27 16:38:00
Nrc Rpt Num 1210519 NRC Report How to search
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
Unintentional Release 3.0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Ignite Ind Yes
Explode Ind No
Num Pub Evacuated 2.0
Incident Identified Datetime 2018-04-27 14:56:00
On Site Datetime 2018-04-27 14:56:00
Federal No
Location Type Private Property
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 Service Riser
Installation Year 1969.0
Material Involved Steel
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Crack
Class Location Type Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid 55000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage 800.0
Est Cost Emergency 3850.0
Est Cost Other 0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 10.0
Prpty 59660.0
Commercial Affected 0.0
Industrial Affected 0.0
Residences Affected 1.0
Accident Psig 54.0
Normal Psig 54.0
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 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 immediately identified by the operator employee working onsite
Employee Drug Test Ind Yes
Num Employees Tested 1
Num Employees Failed 0
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 Employee Was Performing An Routine Meter Exchange. While Attempting To Removing The Existing Meter Using Wrenching Tools, The Riser Snapped Causing Gas To Be Released From The Riser.
Preparer Name C******* K***
Preparer Title Senior Engineering Technical Analyst Ii
Preparer Email C***********@g****.com
Preparer Telephone 989-280-2963
Authorizer Name J**** P****
Authorizer Title Senior Engineering Techinical Analyst Lead
Authorizer Telephone 989-791-5749
Authorizer Email J**********@c********.com
Narrative On friday, april 27, 2018 at approximately 14:46 a consumers energy gas service worker arrived at 58 bobolink street, rochester hills, mi to perform a routine meter exchange. While attempting to remove the existing meter using wrenching tools, the gsw heard hissing and noticed the riser had been compromised and gas was escaping. The employee returned to his vehicle and notified gas dispatch a distribution crew was needed. He also notified his field leader. Upon return to the meter location the gsw observed fire at the residence. He immediately evacuated the residents from a neighboring home and advised dispatch the escaping gas had ignited and fire personnel was needed onsite. The gas distribution crew arrived at approximately 15:31, excavated a remote hole near the distribution pipeline and squeezed the 1/2" steel service line stopping the blowing gas at approximately 16:25. A root cause analysis team has been assembled to investigate the failure, identify a root cause(s) and develop countermeasure(s) to minimize re-occurrence. The investigation was completed and the root cause was determined to be the corrosive condition of the meter and the employee's failure to recognize the meter condition and take adequate precautions to eliminate the potential for a gas release. Countermeasures to minimize future occurrence include a gas service manual revision requiring employees to inspect the riser condition before replacing the gas meter and actions to be taken when atmospheric corrosion is identified to avoid damage that may result in a release of gas.

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