GD incident on 2019-01-04 — ND

Operator
Northern States Power Co Of Minnesota
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2019-01-04 19:04
Report number
Location
ND, CASS
Narrative
On january 4, 2019, at 18:43 xcel energy was notified by the fargo fire department of a fire at 5220 12th st. S in fargo, nd, at the chi community living center. Visual observation after the fire showed that the regulator body had been cracked and was broken through completely, resulting in escaping gas. The escaping gas appears to have migrated into an interior utility room through a vent; the utility room was located directly behind the meter. We believe the gas ignited inside the utility room based on evidence at the scene and video footage preserved by the chi community living center. We are unable to determine what caused the regulator to break. Post-incident inspection of the regulator suggests that the regulator did not break due to corrosion or material defect, we believe it was an external force but cannot determine what the force was or what occurred. Estimated costs of the fire damage appear to exceed $50,000, but are not known at this time.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2019-01-04 19:04:00
Year
2019
Report Received Date
2019-02-04 00:00:00
Iyear
2019.0
Report Number
20190013.0
Supplemental Number
32786.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Northern States Power Co Of Minnesota
Operator Street Address
414 Nicollet Mall
Operator City Name
Minneapolis
Operator State Abbreviation
MN
Operator Postal Code
55402
Local Datetime
2019-01-04 18:42:00
Location Street Address
5220 12th St S
Location City Name
Fargo
Location County Name
Cass
Location State Abbreviation
ND
Location Postal Code
58104
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2019-01-08 14:25:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
7.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
40.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2019-01-04 19:04:00
On Site Datetime
2019-01-04 19:04:00
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
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Outside Meter/regulator Set
Installation Year
2001.0
Material Involved
Cast/wrought Iron
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
50000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
0.0
Est Cost Emergency
4152.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
39.0
Prpty
54191.0
Commercial Affected
1.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
51.0
Normal Psig
51.0
Mop Psig
60.0
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
The release occurred on a meter set and after reviewing data, the release was not significant enough to cause an alarm in scada.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
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
Lab Inspection Of The Broken Regulator Was Performed And Revealed No Evidence That The Break Was Caused By Corrosion Over Time Or From A Material Defect. We Believe The Break Was Caused By An External Force, But Cannot Determine What The Force Was Or What Occurred. Measurements Show That The Roof Overhang Extended Out Beyond The Meter Set And Therefore It Appears The Meter Set Was Covered.
Preparer Name
E******** K*******
Preparer Title
Principal Consultant Gas Standards
Preparer Email
E*******************@x*********.com
Preparer Telephone
651-229-2282
Authorizer Name
C********** A****
Authorizer Title
Manager Gas Standards
Authorizer Telephone
303-571-3298
Authorizer Email
C******************@x*********.com
Narrative
On january 4, 2019, at 18:43 xcel energy was notified by the fargo fire department of a fire at 5220 12th st. S in fargo, nd, at the chi community living center. Visual observation after the fire showed that the regulator body had been cracked and was broken through completely, resulting in escaping gas. The escaping gas appears to have migrated into an interior utility room through a vent; the utility room was located directly behind the meter. We believe the gas ignited inside the utility room based on evidence at the scene and video footage preserved by the chi community living center. We are unable to determine what caused the regulator to break. Post-incident inspection of the regulator suggests that the regulator did not break due to corrosion or material defect, we believe it was an external force but cannot determine what the force was or what occurred. Estimated costs of the fire damage appear to exceed $50,000, but are not known at this time.
Occurred At 2019-01-04 19:04:00
Year 2019
Report Received Date 2019-02-04 00:00:00
Iyear 2019.0
Report Number 20190013.0
Supplemental Number 32786.0
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 31636 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Northern States Power Co Of Minnesota
Operator Street Address 414 Nicollet Mall
Operator City Name Minneapolis
Operator State Abbreviation MN
Operator Postal Code 55402
Local Datetime 2019-01-04 18:42:00
Location Street Address 5220 12th St S
Location City Name Fargo
Location County Name Cass
Location State Abbreviation ND
Location Postal Code 58104
Location Latitude 46.80183 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -96.80138 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2019-01-08 14:25:00
Nrc Rpt Num 1234842 NRC Report How to search
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
Unintentional Release 7.0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Ignite Ind Yes
Explode Ind No
Num Pub Evacuated 40.0
Incident Identified Datetime 2019-01-04 19:04:00
On Site Datetime 2019-01-04 19:04:00
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 Investor Owned
System Part Involved Outside Meter/regulator Set
Installation Year 2001.0
Material Involved Cast/wrought Iron
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Crack
Class Location Type Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid 50000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage 0.0
Est Cost Emergency 4152.0
Est Cost Other 0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 39.0
Prpty 54191.0
Commercial Affected 1.0
Industrial Affected 0.0
Residences Affected 0.0
Accident Psig 51.0
Normal Psig 51.0
Mop Psig 60.0
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 The release occurred on a meter set and after reviewing data, the release was not significant enough to cause an alarm in scada.
Employee Drug Test Ind No
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 Lab Inspection Of The Broken Regulator Was Performed And Revealed No Evidence That The Break Was Caused By Corrosion Over Time Or From A Material Defect. We Believe The Break Was Caused By An External Force, But Cannot Determine What The Force Was Or What Occurred. Measurements Show That The Roof Overhang Extended Out Beyond The Meter Set And Therefore It Appears The Meter Set Was Covered.
Preparer Name E******** K*******
Preparer Title Principal Consultant Gas Standards
Preparer Email E*******************@x*********.com
Preparer Telephone 651-229-2282
Authorizer Name C********** A****
Authorizer Title Manager Gas Standards
Authorizer Telephone 303-571-3298
Authorizer Email C******************@x*********.com
Narrative On january 4, 2019, at 18:43 xcel energy was notified by the fargo fire department of a fire at 5220 12th st. S in fargo, nd, at the chi community living center. Visual observation after the fire showed that the regulator body had been cracked and was broken through completely, resulting in escaping gas. The escaping gas appears to have migrated into an interior utility room through a vent; the utility room was located directly behind the meter. We believe the gas ignited inside the utility room based on evidence at the scene and video footage preserved by the chi community living center. We are unable to determine what caused the regulator to break. Post-incident inspection of the regulator suggests that the regulator did not break due to corrosion or material defect, we believe it was an external force but cannot determine what the force was or what occurred. Estimated costs of the fire damage appear to exceed $50,000, but are not known at this time.

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