GD incident on 2019-07-03 — TN

Operator
Atmos Energy Corporation - Ky/mid-States (Mid-States)
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 3 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2019-07-03 09:35
Report number
Location
TN, SULLIVAN
Narrative
Original DOT incident report #1250847 48 hr. Nrc follow up report #1250999 on 7/3/19 at approx. 0830 atmos energy construction crew arrived for a scheduled grade 2 leak repair on a 6' steel main within the intersection of volunteer parkway and broad st. Upon exposure, leak appeared to be between (2) existing clamps installed during a prior repair. The crew entered the excavation with intent to tighten the existing clamps to remedy the leak. Safety precautions were in place including active monitoring of % gas within the bell hole and manned fire extinguisher. At no time was a significant release of gas heard or recorded by instrument which would indicate a flammable environment. However, during the repair at approx. 0935, natural gas ignited/flashed and injured three construction employees. No sustained flame existed which required shutdown of the gas piping system and public risk was assessed and confirmed as non-hazardous with local emergency response personnel on the scene. Reporting to tpuc, PHMSA, and osha was completed when the operator confirmed that there was personal injury necessitating in-patient hospitalization. The decision was made to initiate a replacement project rather than a temporary repair. Replacement of the pipeline was completed on 9/25/19 as described per the project scope in the original report narrative (#1250999).
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2019-07-03 09:35:00
Year
2019
Report Received Date
2019-08-01 00:00:00
Iyear
2019.0
Report Number
20190083.0
Supplemental Number
33391.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Atmos Energy Corporation - Ky/mid-States (Mid-States)
Operator Street Address
5430 Lbj Freeway Suite 1800
Operator City Name
Dallas
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
75240
Local Datetime
2019-07-03 09:35:00
Location Street Address
Intersection Of Volunteer Parkway And Broad Street
Location City Name
Bristol
Location County Name
Sullivan
Location State Abbreviation
TN
Location Postal Code
37620
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2019-07-03 10:42:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
3
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
3
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2019-07-03 09:35:00
On Site Datetime
2019-07-03 08:30:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
42.0
Crossing
Yes
Road Crossing Ind
Yes
Road Type
Uncased
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1954.0
Pipe Diameter
6.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
0.0
Est Cost Emergency
5000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
0.0
Prpty
5000.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
55.0
Normal Psig
55.0
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
Failure occurred during scheduled operations and not visibly monitored thru scada
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
2
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
Although No Direct Source Of Ignition Has Been Determined, Several Steps Were Conducted To Construction Practices As A Result: 1. Immediate Review Of Hazardous Environment Awareness, Engineering Controls, And Monitoring Of Hazardous Environments Was Conducted With Field Employees (Memo Dated 9/3/19). 2. Review Of Company Procedures Regarding Ppe Levels And Work Tasks Being Performed. 3. Review Of Practices Regarding Existing Repair Clamps During Repairs.
Related No Proc Ind
Yes
Category Type
Routine Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
J*** M* S******
Preparer Title
Manager Of Compliance
Preparer Email
J***********@a**********.com
Preparer Telephone
615-771-8387
Authorizer Name
G*** W* S****
Authorizer Title
Director System Integrity And Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
615 771-8356
Authorizer Email
G*********@a**********.com
Narrative
Original DOT incident report #1250847 48 hr. Nrc follow up report #1250999 on 7/3/19 at approx. 0830 atmos energy construction crew arrived for a scheduled grade 2 leak repair on a 6' steel main within the intersection of volunteer parkway and broad st. Upon exposure, leak appeared to be between (2) existing clamps installed during a prior repair. The crew entered the excavation with intent to tighten the existing clamps to remedy the leak. Safety precautions were in place including active monitoring of % gas within the bell hole and manned fire extinguisher. At no time was a significant release of gas heard or recorded by instrument which would indicate a flammable environment. However, during the repair at approx. 0935, natural gas ignited/flashed and injured three construction employees. No sustained flame existed which required shutdown of the gas piping system and public risk was assessed and confirmed as non-hazardous with local emergency response personnel on the scene. Reporting to tpuc, PHMSA, and osha was completed when the operator confirmed that there was personal injury necessitating in-patient hospitalization. The decision was made to initiate a replacement project rather than a temporary repair. Replacement of the pipeline was completed on 9/25/19 as described per the project scope in the original report narrative (#1250999).
Occurred At 2019-07-03 09:35:00
Year 2019
Report Received Date 2019-08-01 00:00:00
Iyear 2019.0
Report Number 20190083.0
Supplemental Number 33391.0
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 20211 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Atmos Energy Corporation - Ky/mid-States (Mid-States)
Operator Street Address 5430 Lbj Freeway Suite 1800
Operator City Name Dallas
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 75240
Local Datetime 2019-07-03 09:35:00
Location Street Address Intersection Of Volunteer Parkway And Broad Street
Location City Name Bristol
Location County Name Sullivan
Location State Abbreviation TN
Location Postal Code 37620
Location Latitude 36.59283 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -82.18895 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2019-07-03 10:42:00
Nrc Rpt Num 1250847 NRC Report How to search
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
Unintentional Release 0.0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind Yes
Num Emp Injuries 3
Num Contr Injuries 0
Num Er Injuries 0
Num Worker Injuries 0
Num Gp Injuries 0
Injure 3
Ignite Ind Yes
Explode Ind No
Num Pub Evacuated 0.0
Incident Identified Datetime 2019-07-03 09:35:00
On Site Datetime 2019-07-03 08:30:00
Federal No
Location Type Public Property
Incident Area Type Underground
Incident Area Subtype Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover 42.0
Crossing Yes
Road Crossing Ind Yes
Road Type Uncased
Pipe Facility Type Investor Owned
System Part Involved Main
Installation Year 1954.0
Pipe Diameter 6.0
Pipe Specification Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer Unknown
Material Involved Steel
Steel Seam Type Other
Steel Seam Type Details Unknown
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Seal Or Packing
Class Location Type Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid 0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage 0.0
Est Cost Emergency 5000.0
Est Cost Other 0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 0.0
Prpty 5000.0
Commercial Affected 0.0
Industrial Affected 0.0
Residences Affected 0.0
Accident Psig 55.0
Normal Psig 55.0
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 Failure occurred during scheduled operations and not visibly monitored thru scada
Employee Drug Test Ind Yes
Num Employees Tested 2
Num Employees Failed 0
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Incorrect Operation
Cause Details Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details Although No Direct Source Of Ignition Has Been Determined, Several Steps Were Conducted To Construction Practices As A Result: 1. Immediate Review Of Hazardous Environment Awareness, Engineering Controls, And Monitoring Of Hazardous Environments Was Conducted With Field Employees (Memo Dated 9/3/19). 2. Review Of Company Procedures Regarding Ppe Levels And Work Tasks Being Performed. 3. Review Of Practices Regarding Existing Repair Clamps During Repairs.
Related No Proc Ind Yes
Category Type Routine Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind Yes
Qualified Individuals Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name J*** M* S******
Preparer Title Manager Of Compliance
Preparer Email J***********@a**********.com
Preparer Telephone 615-771-8387
Authorizer Name G*** W* S****
Authorizer Title Director System Integrity And Compliance
Authorizer Telephone 615 771-8356
Authorizer Email G*********@a**********.com
Narrative Original DOT incident report #1250847 48 hr. Nrc follow up report #1250999 on 7/3/19 at approx. 0830 atmos energy construction crew arrived for a scheduled grade 2 leak repair on a 6' steel main within the intersection of volunteer parkway and broad st. Upon exposure, leak appeared to be between (2) existing clamps installed during a prior repair. The crew entered the excavation with intent to tighten the existing clamps to remedy the leak. Safety precautions were in place including active monitoring of % gas within the bell hole and manned fire extinguisher. At no time was a significant release of gas heard or recorded by instrument which would indicate a flammable environment. However, during the repair at approx. 0935, natural gas ignited/flashed and injured three construction employees. No sustained flame existed which required shutdown of the gas piping system and public risk was assessed and confirmed as non-hazardous with local emergency response personnel on the scene. Reporting to tpuc, PHMSA, and osha was completed when the operator confirmed that there was personal injury necessitating in-patient hospitalization. The decision was made to initiate a replacement project rather than a temporary repair. Replacement of the pipeline was completed on 9/25/19 as described per the project scope in the original report narrative (#1250999).

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