Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2018-09-02 — MI
Operator
Consumers Energy Co
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$2,673,007
Incident datetime
2018-09-02 22:04
Report number
Location
MI
Narrative
On september 2, 2018 at approximately 22:04 consumers energy gas controller dispatched an instrument mechanic to the mcbain city gate because of erratic readings on the transmitters at this location. The mcbain city gate is located in mcbain, michigan (missaukee county). The mechanic arrived at the mcbain city gate at approximately 22:47 and observed a fire at/near the dehydration unit building. The mechanic notified the field leader and requested additional support to isolate the pipeline segment supplying the unit. Additional resources arrived at the 80-w valve site at approximately 23:13 and the mechanics simultaneously closed the valves at 80-w and mcbain city gate to isolate the gas flow to the dehydration unit. The fire continued as the as the pipeline depressurized and then was extinguished. There were no fatalities or injuries as a result of the incident. The mcbain fire department was on scene and preliminary investigation determined a lightning strike to be the cause. Consumers energy also received a report from strikenet� confirming the presence of 22 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were detected within 2 miles of the property on september 2, 2018. New valves were installed on the well lines (r-178 and r-179) and a temporary hose to the 2" blowdown for the line that supplies the mcbain city gate was installed. The line was re-pressurized on september 3, 2018 at approximately 04:44. The incident response and temporary repairs were completed with no customer impact and/or loss of service. The inlet and outlet valves to the dehydration unit were blind flanged and the system was bypassed to supply the lake city and mcbain city gates. An action plan will be developed to prepare for winter operations. An internal team was assembled to complete a root cause investigation and identify countermeasures to minimize future occurrences. A root cause investigation concluded the origin of the fire was at or near the dehydration unit and may have been the result of an equipment failure at a kimray controller causing the fuel train regulator to continue to feed the fuel to the burner, leading the diethylene glycol to boil over and ignite. However, due to the lack of physical evidence the exact cause remains undetermined. The dehydration unit was in-service while the riverside storage field was shut in. Leaving the unit in service allows consumers energy to continue to provide required quality of gas to the city gates. Several factors that may have caused or contributed to the severity of the incident have been outlined in the root cause report and action items to prevent re-occurrence have been implemented.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2018-10-01 00:00:00
Iyear
2018
Report Number
20180097
Supplemental Number
32356
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2748
Name
Consumers Energy Co
Operator Street Address
One Energy Plaza
Operator City Name
Jackson
Operator State Abbreviation
MI
Operator Postal Code
49201
Local Datetime
2018-09-02 22:04:00
Location Latitude
44.200954
Location Longitude
-85.207362
Nrc Rpt Num
1223491
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2018-09-03 05:36:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
3200
Intentional Release
74.6
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2018-09-02 23:13:00
Restart Datetime
2019-02-27 11:00:00
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2018-09-02 22:04:00
On Site Datetime
2018-09-02 22:47:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Mi
Onshore Postal Code
49657
Onshore City Name
Mcbain
Onshore County Name
Missaukee
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
Mcbain Dehy
Pipe Fac Name
Mcbain-Lake City Dehydration Unit
Segment Name
Lateral 80w
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
System Part Involved
Aboveground Storage, Including Associated Equipment And Piping
Item Involved
Dehydrator/drier/treater/scrubber
Installation Year
1982
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
The Unit's Kimray Controller Caused The Fuel Train Regulator To Continue To Feed Fuel To The Burner, Causing The Diethylene Glycol To Boil Over And Ignite.
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
156
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
9396
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
2673007
Est Cost Emergency
6470
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
2688873
Accident Psig
668
Mop Psig
800
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission In Storage Field
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 Other Ind
Yes
Invest Other Ind Details
The High-High Temperature Alarm Limit Of 300� F Was Not Recognized In Gas Control Prior To The Mcbain Fire Because The Telemetry Data Received Never Exceeded The 300 Degree Alarm Limit Threshold Due To The Scaling Of The Transducer(0-300) In The Field.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Type
Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Details
Equipment Failure At A Kimray Controller Causing The Fuel Train Regulator To Continue To Feed The Fuel To The Burner, Leading The Diethylene Glycol To Boil Over And Ignite.
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Equipment Failure A Kimray Controller
Preparer Name
C******* K***
Preparer Title
Senior Engineeringtechnical Analyst Ii
Preparer Email
C************@c********.com
Preparer Telephone
989-280-2963
Authorizer Name
J**** P****
Authorizer Title
Senior Engineering Lead
Authorizer Telephone
989-791-5749
Authorizer Email
J**********@c********.com
Narrative
On september 2, 2018 at approximately 22:04 consumers energy gas controller dispatched an instrument mechanic to the mcbain city gate because of erratic readings on the transmitters at this location. The mcbain city gate is located in mcbain, michigan (missaukee county). The mechanic arrived at the mcbain city gate at approximately 22:47 and observed a fire at/near the dehydration unit building. The mechanic notified the field leader and requested additional support to isolate the pipeline segment supplying the unit. Additional resources arrived at the 80-w valve site at approximately 23:13 and the mechanics simultaneously closed the valves at 80-w and mcbain city gate to isolate the gas flow to the dehydration unit. The fire continued as the as the pipeline depressurized and then was extinguished. There were no fatalities or injuries as a result of the incident. The mcbain fire department was on scene and preliminary investigation determined a lightning strike to be the cause. Consumers energy also received a report from strikenet� confirming the presence of 22 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were detected within 2 miles of the property on september 2, 2018. New valves were installed on the well lines (r-178 and r-179) and a temporary hose to the 2" blowdown for the line that supplies the mcbain city gate was installed. The line was re-pressurized on september 3, 2018 at approximately 04:44. The incident response and temporary repairs were completed with no customer impact and/or loss of service. The inlet and outlet valves to the dehydration unit were blind flanged and the system was bypassed to supply the lake city and mcbain city gates. An action plan will be developed to prepare for winter operations. An internal team was assembled to complete a root cause investigation and identify countermeasures to minimize future occurrences. A root cause investigation concluded the origin of the fire was at or near the dehydration unit and may have been the result of an equipment failure at a kimray controller causing the fuel train regulator to continue to feed the fuel to the burner, leading the diethylene glycol to boil over and ignite. However, due to the lack of physical evidence the exact cause remains undetermined. The dehydration unit was in-service while the riverside storage field was shut in. Leaving the unit in service allows consumers energy to continue to provide required quality of gas to the city gates. Several factors that may have caused or contributed to the severity of the incident have been outlined in the root cause report and action items to prevent re-occurrence have been implemented.
| Report Received Date | 2018-10-01 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2018 |
| Report Number | 20180097 |
| Supplemental Number | 32356 |
| 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 | 2018-09-02 22:04:00 |
| Location Latitude | 44.200954 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -85.207362 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1223491 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2018-09-03 05:36:00 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 3200 |
| Intentional Release | 74.6 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2018-09-02 23:13:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2019-02-27 11:00:00 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2018-09-02 22:04:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2018-09-02 22:47:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Mi |
| Onshore Postal Code | 49657 |
| Onshore City Name | Mcbain |
| Onshore County Name | Missaukee |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | Mcbain Dehy |
| Pipe Fac Name | Mcbain-Lake City Dehydration Unit |
| Segment Name | Lateral 80w |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| System Part Involved | Aboveground Storage, Including Associated Equipment And Piping |
| Item Involved | Dehydrator/drier/treater/scrubber |
| Installation Year | 1982 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | The Unit's Kimray Controller Caused The Fuel Train Regulator To Continue To Feed Fuel To The Burner, Causing The Diethylene Glycol To Boil Over And Ignite. |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 156 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 9396 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 2673007 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 6470 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 2688873 |
| Accident Psig | 668 |
| Mop Psig | 800 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission In Storage Field |
| 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 Other Ind | Yes |
| Invest Other Ind Details | The High-High Temperature Alarm Limit Of 300� F Was Not Recognized In Gas Control Prior To The Mcbain Fire Because The Telemetry Data Received Never Exceeded The 300 Degree Alarm Limit Threshold Due To The Scaling Of The Transducer(0-300) In The Field. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Other Equipment Failure |
| Eq Failure Type | Other Equipment Failure |
| Eq Failure Details | Equipment Failure At A Kimray Controller Causing The Fuel Train Regulator To Continue To Feed The Fuel To The Burner, Leading The Diethylene Glycol To Boil Over And Ignite. |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Equipment Failure A Kimray Controller |
| Preparer Name | C******* K*** |
| Preparer Title | Senior Engineeringtechnical Analyst Ii |
| Preparer Email | C************@c********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 989-280-2963 |
| Authorizer Name | J**** P**** |
| Authorizer Title | Senior Engineering Lead |
| Authorizer Telephone | 989-791-5749 |
| Authorizer Email | J**********@c********.com |
| Narrative | On september 2, 2018 at approximately 22:04 consumers energy gas controller dispatched an instrument mechanic to the mcbain city gate because of erratic readings on the transmitters at this location. The mcbain city gate is located in mcbain, michigan (missaukee county). The mechanic arrived at the mcbain city gate at approximately 22:47 and observed a fire at/near the dehydration unit building. The mechanic notified the field leader and requested additional support to isolate the pipeline segment supplying the unit. Additional resources arrived at the 80-w valve site at approximately 23:13 and the mechanics simultaneously closed the valves at 80-w and mcbain city gate to isolate the gas flow to the dehydration unit. The fire continued as the as the pipeline depressurized and then was extinguished. There were no fatalities or injuries as a result of the incident. The mcbain fire department was on scene and preliminary investigation determined a lightning strike to be the cause. Consumers energy also received a report from strikenet� confirming the presence of 22 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were detected within 2 miles of the property on september 2, 2018. New valves were installed on the well lines (r-178 and r-179) and a temporary hose to the 2" blowdown for the line that supplies the mcbain city gate was installed. The line was re-pressurized on september 3, 2018 at approximately 04:44. The incident response and temporary repairs were completed with no customer impact and/or loss of service. The inlet and outlet valves to the dehydration unit were blind flanged and the system was bypassed to supply the lake city and mcbain city gates. An action plan will be developed to prepare for winter operations. An internal team was assembled to complete a root cause investigation and identify countermeasures to minimize future occurrences. A root cause investigation concluded the origin of the fire was at or near the dehydration unit and may have been the result of an equipment failure at a kimray controller causing the fuel train regulator to continue to feed the fuel to the burner, leading the diethylene glycol to boil over and ignite. However, due to the lack of physical evidence the exact cause remains undetermined. The dehydration unit was in-service while the riverside storage field was shut in. Leaving the unit in service allows consumers energy to continue to provide required quality of gas to the city gates. Several factors that may have caused or contributed to the severity of the incident have been outlined in the root cause report and action items to prevent re-occurrence have been implemented. |
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