Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2019-12-19 — PA
Operator
Philadelphia Gas Works
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
2 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$1,000
Incident datetime
2019-12-19 11:45
Report number
Location
PA, PHILADELPHIA
Narrative
On thursday, december 19th 2019, at 11:45 am pgw received a call from the philadelphia fire department (pfd) reporting a possible explosion on the 1400 block of south 8th street. Pgw immediately dispatched first responders to investigate. The first pgw employee arrived on location at 11:49 am. Upon arrival three properties were on fire (1433, 1435, & 1437 s. 8th street) and the debris field was consistent with a potential explosion. With the assistance of the pfd, pgw performed house checks and the pfd evacuated approximately 60 people during the event. A 6" cast iron gas main supplied the gas services to the properties on fire. In order to shut down the gas main and services to these properties pgw utilized grease injected through the services of 1421 and 1441 s. 8th street. The main and services were shut down at 13:27. The permanent cut and caps of the 6" cast iron main were completed at 17:30. On 12/19/19 at 23:00 pgw inserted a camera inside the abandoned 6" cast iron gas main and identified a potential broken main location. The camera view was hindered due to the main being filled with water. On 12/21/19 (after the water had been drained from the main) pgw inserted the camera again and identified a clear circumferential break where the main had dropped. The location of the broken main was 136 feet nncl of dickinson street. On 12/22/19 pgw was given access to excavate and retrieve the 6" cast iron broken main for evidence. The footway and roadway pavement was undermined at this location and a large cavity existed in the intersection of 1400 s. 8th street and 800 wilder street. A 6" stainless steel sleeve was installed on the broken main and this section of main was marked and removed for evidence. The testing and metallurgical analysis has not been completed due to the current work stoppage caused by the covid-19 pandemic. The testing will be rescheduled after the pandemic restrictions have been lifted. The testing and metallurgical analysis is scheduled to take place on 6/24/2020 at affiliated engineering laboratories, inc. 777 new durham road, edison nj 08817. On september 30, 2020 the testing analysis was provided to pgw and the pennsylvania public utility commission. The summary of the findings concluded external stresses applied to a graphitized gas main induced a circumferential crack whereby gas was allowed to escape. There was no evidence of a pre-existing breach or leak location observed on the fracture surface.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2019-12-19 11:45:00
Year
2019
Report Received Date
2020-01-03 00:00:00
Iyear
2019.0
Report Number
20200003.0
Supplemental Number
34511.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15469
Name
Philadelphia Gas Works
Operator Street Address
800 W. Montgomery Avenue
Operator City Name
Philadelphia
Operator State Abbreviation
PA
Operator Postal Code
19122
Local Datetime
2019-12-19 11:45:00
Location Street Address
1435 S. 8th Street
Location City Name
Philadelphia
Location County Name
Philadelphia
Location State Abbreviation
PA
Location Postal Code
19147
Location Latitude
39.93077
Location Longitude
-75.157868
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2019-12-19 15:47:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1266865
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
10.0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
2
Fatal
2
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
60.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2019-12-19 11:45:00
On Site Datetime
2019-12-19 11:49:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Pavement
Depth Of Cover
32.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Municipally Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1928.0
Pipe Diameter
6.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Cast/wrought Iron
Release Type
Rupture
Rupture Orient
Circumferential
Rupture Length
20
Rupture Width
0.1
Class Location Type
Class 4 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
1375900.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
1000.0
Est Cost Emergency
40000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
20.0
Prpty
1416920.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
5.0
Accident Psig
0.25
Normal Psig
0.25
Mop Psig
0.5
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Emergency Responder
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
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
A Large Underground Cavity Caused Ground Movement Which Resulted In The Rupture Of The Six Inch Cast Iron Main.
Preparer Name
J***** H********
Preparer Title
Vp Of Field Operations
Preparer Email
J***************@p******.com
Preparer Telephone
2672496768
Authorizer Name
J***** H********
Authorizer Title
Vp Of Field Operations
Authorizer Telephone
2672496768
Authorizer Email
J***************@p******.com
Narrative
On thursday, december 19th 2019, at 11:45 am pgw received a call from the philadelphia fire department (pfd) reporting a possible explosion on the 1400 block of south 8th street. Pgw immediately dispatched first responders to investigate. The first pgw employee arrived on location at 11:49 am. Upon arrival three properties were on fire (1433, 1435, & 1437 s. 8th street) and the debris field was consistent with a potential explosion. With the assistance of the pfd, pgw performed house checks and the pfd evacuated approximately 60 people during the event. A 6" cast iron gas main supplied the gas services to the properties on fire. In order to shut down the gas main and services to these properties pgw utilized grease injected through the services of 1421 and 1441 s. 8th street. The main and services were shut down at 13:27. The permanent cut and caps of the 6" cast iron main were completed at 17:30. On 12/19/19 at 23:00 pgw inserted a camera inside the abandoned 6" cast iron gas main and identified a potential broken main location. The camera view was hindered due to the main being filled with water. On 12/21/19 (after the water had been drained from the main) pgw inserted the camera again and identified a clear circumferential break where the main had dropped. The location of the broken main was 136 feet nncl of dickinson street. On 12/22/19 pgw was given access to excavate and retrieve the 6" cast iron broken main for evidence. The footway and roadway pavement was undermined at this location and a large cavity existed in the intersection of 1400 s. 8th street and 800 wilder street. A 6" stainless steel sleeve was installed on the broken main and this section of main was marked and removed for evidence. The testing and metallurgical analysis has not been completed due to the current work stoppage caused by the covid-19 pandemic. The testing will be rescheduled after the pandemic restrictions have been lifted. The testing and metallurgical analysis is scheduled to take place on 6/24/2020 at affiliated engineering laboratories, inc. 777 new durham road, edison nj 08817. On september 30, 2020 the testing analysis was provided to pgw and the pennsylvania public utility commission. The summary of the findings concluded external stresses applied to a graphitized gas main induced a circumferential crack whereby gas was allowed to escape. There was no evidence of a pre-existing breach or leak location observed on the fracture surface.
| Occurred At | 2019-12-19 11:45:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019 |
| Report Received Date | 2020-01-03 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2019.0 |
| Report Number | 20200003.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 34511.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15469 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Philadelphia Gas Works |
| Operator Street Address | 800 W. Montgomery Avenue |
| Operator City Name | Philadelphia |
| Operator State Abbreviation | PA |
| Operator Postal Code | 19122 |
| Local Datetime | 2019-12-19 11:45:00 |
| Location Street Address | 1435 S. 8th Street |
| Location City Name | Philadelphia |
| Location County Name | Philadelphia |
| Location State Abbreviation | PA |
| Location Postal Code | 19147 |
| Location Latitude | 39.93077 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -75.157868 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2019-12-19 15:47:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1266865 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 10.0 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 2 |
| Fatal | 2 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 60.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2019-12-19 11:45:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2019-12-19 11:49:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Pavement |
| Depth Of Cover | 32.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Municipally Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1928.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 6.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Cast/wrought Iron |
| Release Type | Rupture |
| Rupture Orient | Circumferential |
| Rupture Length | 20 |
| Rupture Width | 0.1 |
| Class Location Type | Class 4 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 1375900.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 1000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 40000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 20.0 |
| Prpty | 1416920.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 5.0 |
| Accident Psig | 0.25 |
| Normal Psig | 0.25 |
| Mop Psig | 0.5 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident |
| 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 | A Large Underground Cavity Caused Ground Movement Which Resulted In The Rupture Of The Six Inch Cast Iron Main. |
| Preparer Name | J***** H******** |
| Preparer Title | Vp Of Field Operations |
| Preparer Email | J***************@p******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 2672496768 |
| Authorizer Name | J***** H******** |
| Authorizer Title | Vp Of Field Operations |
| Authorizer Telephone | 2672496768 |
| Authorizer Email | J***************@p******.com |
| Narrative | On thursday, december 19th 2019, at 11:45 am pgw received a call from the philadelphia fire department (pfd) reporting a possible explosion on the 1400 block of south 8th street. Pgw immediately dispatched first responders to investigate. The first pgw employee arrived on location at 11:49 am. Upon arrival three properties were on fire (1433, 1435, & 1437 s. 8th street) and the debris field was consistent with a potential explosion. With the assistance of the pfd, pgw performed house checks and the pfd evacuated approximately 60 people during the event. A 6" cast iron gas main supplied the gas services to the properties on fire. In order to shut down the gas main and services to these properties pgw utilized grease injected through the services of 1421 and 1441 s. 8th street. The main and services were shut down at 13:27. The permanent cut and caps of the 6" cast iron main were completed at 17:30. On 12/19/19 at 23:00 pgw inserted a camera inside the abandoned 6" cast iron gas main and identified a potential broken main location. The camera view was hindered due to the main being filled with water. On 12/21/19 (after the water had been drained from the main) pgw inserted the camera again and identified a clear circumferential break where the main had dropped. The location of the broken main was 136 feet nncl of dickinson street. On 12/22/19 pgw was given access to excavate and retrieve the 6" cast iron broken main for evidence. The footway and roadway pavement was undermined at this location and a large cavity existed in the intersection of 1400 s. 8th street and 800 wilder street. A 6" stainless steel sleeve was installed on the broken main and this section of main was marked and removed for evidence. The testing and metallurgical analysis has not been completed due to the current work stoppage caused by the covid-19 pandemic. The testing will be rescheduled after the pandemic restrictions have been lifted. The testing and metallurgical analysis is scheduled to take place on 6/24/2020 at affiliated engineering laboratories, inc. 777 new durham road, edison nj 08817. On september 30, 2020 the testing analysis was provided to pgw and the pennsylvania public utility commission. The summary of the findings concluded external stresses applied to a graphitized gas main induced a circumferential crack whereby gas was allowed to escape. There was no evidence of a pre-existing breach or leak location observed on the fracture surface. |
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