Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2018-09-13 — MA
Operator
Columbia Gas Of Massachusetts
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
1 fatality
25 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$261,000,000
Incident datetime
2018-09-13 16:29
Report number
Location
MA, ESSEX
Narrative
On september 13, 2018, columbia gas of massachusetts experienced an overpressurization of its low-pressure gas distribution system in lawrence, andover, and north andover, massachusetts. This incident was investigated by the national transportation safety board, which issued its report on september 24, 2019. That report, which is available to the public, includes a narrative description of the incident and its probable cause. Part a #5a -location is address of the first priority call. Multiple locations are associated with this incident. Part a 12f - source of injuries (25) were from press releases from media. Part a #13a - all valves were shut down at 19:24 on 9/13/2018, but there was some bleed through of gas until 6:26 on 9/14/2018. Part a #16 - number of customers evacuated is unknown, due to evacuations being completed by multiple sources including but not limited to police, fire, self/public, operator, mayor of lawrence and media. Part d #3b- industrial customers are included in our commercial accounts. Part e #1 - the highest pressure recorded was a 6.0, which is the upper limit of the recording equipment. 5.6.21- updated part a7 and part d. - cost of gas released, a13 -a15: times are estimated as there were multiple emergency responders. A21c: volume of gas lost in fire is unknown, multiple fires. Required to put in a number. D6-7: buildings evacuated, affected is based on number of customers affected. Total evacuation number is unknown. E3b: defaulted date to the regulator station install year. This was a low pressure system with pipe installed over many decades. The system was operating at pressures consistent with 192.623.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2018-09-13 16:29:00
Year
2018
Report Received Date
2018-10-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2018.0
Report Number
20180092.0
Supplemental Number
35384.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
1209
Name
Columbia Gas Of Massachusetts
Operator Street Address
4 Technology Drive
Operator City Name
Westborough
Operator State Abbreviation
MA
Operator Postal Code
01581
Local Datetime
2018-09-13 16:18:00
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Street Address
85 Andover St
Location City Name
Lawrence
Location County Name
Essex
Location State Abbreviation
MA
Location Postal Code
01843
Location Latitude
42.6970057
Location Longitude
-71.17532
Flow Cont Key Crit Ind
Yes
Flow Cont Main Valve Ind
Yes
Flow Cont Meter Reg Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2018-09-13 17:05:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1224542
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
678.0
Intentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
1
Fatal
1
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
25
Injure
25
Ignite Ind
Yes
Ignite Datetime
2018-09-13 16:18:00
How Extinguished
Local/state/federal Emergency Responder
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
1
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2018-09-13 16:29:00
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Initial Responder Com Datetime
2018-09-13 16:29:00
On Site Datetime
2018-09-13 16:32:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
In Underground Enclosed Space (E.g. Vault)
Depth Of Cover
24.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
District Regulator/metering Station
Installation Year
1961.0
Material Involved
Other
Material Details
Multiple Pipe Material And Sizes
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Overpressurization
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
575000000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
261000000.0
Est Cost Emergency
16500000.0
Est Cost Other
734000000.0
Est Cost Other Details
Claims And Other Mitigation.
Gas Cost In Mcf
3.05
Est Cost Unintentional Release
2068.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
1586502068.0
Commercial Affected
784.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
7249.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
25.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
7249.0
Num Business Building Affctd
784.0
Accident Psig
6.0
Normal Psig
0.38
Mop Psig
0.5
Mop Cfr Section
192.623
Maop Established Date
1961-01-01 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Exceeded The Applicable Allowance In 192.201
Gas Odorized System Type
Injection Pump
Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind
Yes
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
Accident Identifier
Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations)
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest Schedule Ind
Yes
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
3
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Contractors Tested
4
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Pipeline Or Equipment Overpressured
Operation Type
Pipeline Or Equipment Overpressured
Related Other Ind
Yes
Operation Related Details
Inadvertent Overpressurization. The Ntsb's Investigation Was Completed On September 24, 2019.
Category Type
Decommissioning
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
No, But They Were Performing The Task(S) Under The Direction And Observation Of A Qualified Individual
Preparer Name
K******** M S*****
Preparer Title
Operations Compliance Supervisor
Preparer Email
K***************@e*********.com
Preparer Telephone
5088641836
Authorizer Name
K******** M S*****
Authorizer Title
Operations Compliance Supervisor
Authorizer Telephone
5088641836
Authorizer Email
K***************@e*********.com
Narrative
On september 13, 2018, columbia gas of massachusetts experienced an overpressurization of its low-pressure gas distribution system in lawrence, andover, and north andover, massachusetts. This incident was investigated by the national transportation safety board, which issued its report on september 24, 2019. That report, which is available to the public, includes a narrative description of the incident and its probable cause. Part a #5a -location is address of the first priority call. Multiple locations are associated with this incident. Part a 12f - source of injuries (25) were from press releases from media. Part a #13a - all valves were shut down at 19:24 on 9/13/2018, but there was some bleed through of gas until 6:26 on 9/14/2018. Part a #16 - number of customers evacuated is unknown, due to evacuations being completed by multiple sources including but not limited to police, fire, self/public, operator, mayor of lawrence and media. Part d #3b- industrial customers are included in our commercial accounts. Part e #1 - the highest pressure recorded was a 6.0, which is the upper limit of the recording equipment. 5.6.21- updated part a7 and part d. - cost of gas released, a13 -a15: times are estimated as there were multiple emergency responders. A21c: volume of gas lost in fire is unknown, multiple fires. Required to put in a number. D6-7: buildings evacuated, affected is based on number of customers affected. Total evacuation number is unknown. E3b: defaulted date to the regulator station install year. This was a low pressure system with pipe installed over many decades. The system was operating at pressures consistent with 192.623.
| Occurred At | 2018-09-13 16:29:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
| Report Received Date | 2018-10-13 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2018.0 |
| Report Number | 20180092.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 35384.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 1209 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Columbia Gas Of Massachusetts |
| Operator Street Address | 4 Technology Drive |
| Operator City Name | Westborough |
| Operator State Abbreviation | MA |
| Operator Postal Code | 01581 |
| Local Datetime | 2018-09-13 16:18:00 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Street Address | 85 Andover St |
| Location City Name | Lawrence |
| Location County Name | Essex |
| Location State Abbreviation | MA |
| Location Postal Code | 01843 |
| Location Latitude | 42.6970057 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -71.17532 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Key Crit Ind | Yes |
| Flow Cont Main Valve Ind | Yes |
| Flow Cont Meter Reg Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2018-09-13 17:05:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1224542 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 678.0 |
| Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 1 |
| Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 25 |
| Injure | 25 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Ignite Datetime | 2018-09-13 16:18:00 |
| How Extinguished | Local/state/federal Emergency Responder |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 1 |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2018-09-13 16:29:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Initial Responder Com Datetime | 2018-09-13 16:29:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2018-09-13 16:32:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | In Underground Enclosed Space (E.g. Vault) |
| Depth Of Cover | 24.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | District Regulator/metering Station |
| Installation Year | 1961.0 |
| Material Involved | Other |
| Material Details | Multiple Pipe Material And Sizes |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Overpressurization |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 575000000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 261000000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 16500000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 734000000.0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Claims And Other Mitigation. |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 3.05 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 2068.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 1586502068.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 784.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 7249.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 25.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 7249.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 784.0 |
| Accident Psig | 6.0 |
| Normal Psig | 0.38 |
| Mop Psig | 0.5 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.623 View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1961-01-01 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Exceeded The Applicable Allowance In 192.201 |
| Gas Odorized System Type | Injection Pump |
| Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind | Yes |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| Accident Identifier | Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations) |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest Schedule Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Controller Ind | Yes |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 3 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Contractors Tested | 4 |
| Num Contractors Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Pipeline Or Equipment Overpressured |
| Operation Type | Pipeline Or Equipment Overpressured |
| Related Other Ind | Yes |
| Operation Related Details | Inadvertent Overpressurization. The Ntsb's Investigation Was Completed On September 24, 2019. |
| Category Type | Decommissioning |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | No, But They Were Performing The Task(S) Under The Direction And Observation Of A Qualified Individual |
| Preparer Name | K******** M S***** |
| Preparer Title | Operations Compliance Supervisor |
| Preparer Email | K***************@e*********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 5088641836 |
| Authorizer Name | K******** M S***** |
| Authorizer Title | Operations Compliance Supervisor |
| Authorizer Telephone | 5088641836 |
| Authorizer Email | K***************@e*********.com |
| Narrative | On september 13, 2018, columbia gas of massachusetts experienced an overpressurization of its low-pressure gas distribution system in lawrence, andover, and north andover, massachusetts. This incident was investigated by the national transportation safety board, which issued its report on september 24, 2019. That report, which is available to the public, includes a narrative description of the incident and its probable cause. Part a #5a -location is address of the first priority call. Multiple locations are associated with this incident. Part a 12f - source of injuries (25) were from press releases from media. Part a #13a - all valves were shut down at 19:24 on 9/13/2018, but there was some bleed through of gas until 6:26 on 9/14/2018. Part a #16 - number of customers evacuated is unknown, due to evacuations being completed by multiple sources including but not limited to police, fire, self/public, operator, mayor of lawrence and media. Part d #3b- industrial customers are included in our commercial accounts. Part e #1 - the highest pressure recorded was a 6.0, which is the upper limit of the recording equipment. 5.6.21- updated part a7 and part d. - cost of gas released, a13 -a15: times are estimated as there were multiple emergency responders. A21c: volume of gas lost in fire is unknown, multiple fires. Required to put in a number. D6-7: buildings evacuated, affected is based on number of customers affected. Total evacuation number is unknown. E3b: defaulted date to the regulator station install year. This was a low pressure system with pipe installed over many decades. The system was operating at pressures consistent with 192.623. |
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