Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2020-05-13 — IN
Operator
Northern Indiana Public Service Co
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$23,000
Incident datetime
2020-05-13 12:00
Report number
Location
IN, ELKHART
Narrative
While stopping the dead end of a pipeline for scheduled work, tdw shortstopp ii plugging system failed, causing a release of gas. There were no injuries, fatalities, or property damage as a result of the release of gas. The fire department evacuated approximately 900 residents on a voluntary basis. I will be providing updates every 30 days. 6/12/2020 update: at this time, the investigation into this incident is still ongoing. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts are known, whichever comes first. 7/13/2020 update: at this time, the investigation into this incident is still ongoing. We are expecting initial results from a 3rd party testing facility within the next 14 days. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts are known, whichever comes first. 8/13/2020 update: at this time, we have received results from a 3rd party vendor and are in the final stages of the investigation. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts or known, whichever comes first. 4/16/2021 final update: the wrong tooling was selected for the purposes of the job. The stopple equipment used was rated for 150 psi and the pipe was operating at 190 psi. This was a result of confusing language in the manufactures equipment listing table , human error, and gaps in a tool selection process.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2020-05-13 12:00:00
Year
2020
Report Received Date
2020-05-15 00:00:00
Iyear
2020.0
Report Number
20200049.0
Supplemental Number
35184.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
13730
Name
Northern Indiana Public Service Co
Operator Street Address
801 E 86th Avenue
Operator City Name
Merrillville
Operator State Abbreviation
IN
Operator Postal Code
46410
Local Datetime
2020-05-13 13:30:00
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Street Address
1014 W Pike St
Location City Name
Goshen
Location County Name
Elkhart
Location State Abbreviation
IN
Location Postal Code
46526
Location Latitude
41.588735
Location Longitude
-85.848918
Flow Cont Stopple Fitng Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2020-05-14 15:43:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1277275
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
9983.75
Intentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
900.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2020-05-13 12:00:00
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Initial Responder Com Datetime
2020-05-13 12:00:00
On Site Datetime
2020-05-13 12:05:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
36.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1961.0
Pipe Diameter
8.0
Pipe Specification
Api 5l Psl2 X42
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Erw
Wt Steel
0.219
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Stopple Equipment Failure
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
23000.0
Est Cost Emergency
10000.0
Est Cost Other
10000.0
Est Cost Other Details
Outside Services Cost
Gas Cost In Mcf
2.11
Est Cost Unintentional Release
21066.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
64066.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
4.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
100.0
Num Business Building Affctd
15.0
Accident Psig
190.0
Normal Psig
190.0
Mop Psig
200.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1961-11-01 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
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
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
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
Stopple equipment failed while employees were onsite.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Contractors Tested
2
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Wrong Equipment Specified Or Installed
Operation Type
Wrong Equipment Specified Or Installed
Related Inadequate Proc Ind
Yes
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Decommissioning
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Io Wrong Equipment Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
R*** S****
Preparer Title
Manager Of Gas Operations Compliance
Preparer Email
R********@n*******.com
Preparer Telephone
2192524057
Local Contact Name
R*** S****
Local Contact Email
R********@n*******.com
Local Contact Telephone
2192524057
Authorizer Name
R*** S****
Authorizer Title
Manager Of Gas Operations Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
2192524057
Authorizer Email
R********@n*******.com
Narrative
While stopping the dead end of a pipeline for scheduled work, tdw shortstopp ii plugging system failed, causing a release of gas. There were no injuries, fatalities, or property damage as a result of the release of gas. The fire department evacuated approximately 900 residents on a voluntary basis. I will be providing updates every 30 days. 6/12/2020 update: at this time, the investigation into this incident is still ongoing. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts are known, whichever comes first. 7/13/2020 update: at this time, the investigation into this incident is still ongoing. We are expecting initial results from a 3rd party testing facility within the next 14 days. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts are known, whichever comes first. 8/13/2020 update: at this time, we have received results from a 3rd party vendor and are in the final stages of the investigation. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts or known, whichever comes first. 4/16/2021 final update: the wrong tooling was selected for the purposes of the job. The stopple equipment used was rated for 150 psi and the pipe was operating at 190 psi. This was a result of confusing language in the manufactures equipment listing table , human error, and gaps in a tool selection process.
| Occurred At | 2020-05-13 12:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2020 |
| Report Received Date | 2020-05-15 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2020.0 |
| Report Number | 20200049.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 35184.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 13730 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Northern Indiana Public Service Co |
| Operator Street Address | 801 E 86th Avenue |
| Operator City Name | Merrillville |
| Operator State Abbreviation | IN |
| Operator Postal Code | 46410 |
| Local Datetime | 2020-05-13 13:30:00 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Street Address | 1014 W Pike St |
| Location City Name | Goshen |
| Location County Name | Elkhart |
| Location State Abbreviation | IN |
| Location Postal Code | 46526 |
| Location Latitude | 41.588735 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -85.848918 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Stopple Fitng Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2020-05-14 15:43:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1277275 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 9983.75 |
| Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 900.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2020-05-13 12:00:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Initial Responder Com Datetime | 2020-05-13 12:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2020-05-13 12:05:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Depth Of Cover | 36.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1961.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 8.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l Psl2 X42 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Erw |
| Wt Steel | 0.219 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Stopple Equipment Failure |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 23000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 10000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 10000.0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Outside Services Cost |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 2.11 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 21066.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 64066.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 4.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 100.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 15.0 |
| Accident Psig | 190.0 |
| Normal Psig | 190.0 |
| Mop Psig | 200.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1961-11-01 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| 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 | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Contractor Working For The Operator |
| 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 | Stopple equipment failed while employees were onsite. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Contractors Tested | 2 |
| Num Contractors Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Wrong Equipment Specified Or Installed |
| Operation Type | Wrong Equipment Specified Or Installed |
| Related Inadequate Proc Ind | Yes |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Decommissioning |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Io Wrong Equipment Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | R*** S**** |
| Preparer Title | Manager Of Gas Operations Compliance |
| Preparer Email | R********@n*******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 2192524057 |
| Local Contact Name | R*** S**** |
| Local Contact Email | R********@n*******.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 2192524057 |
| Authorizer Name | R*** S**** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Of Gas Operations Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 2192524057 |
| Authorizer Email | R********@n*******.com |
| Narrative | While stopping the dead end of a pipeline for scheduled work, tdw shortstopp ii plugging system failed, causing a release of gas. There were no injuries, fatalities, or property damage as a result of the release of gas. The fire department evacuated approximately 900 residents on a voluntary basis. I will be providing updates every 30 days. 6/12/2020 update: at this time, the investigation into this incident is still ongoing. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts are known, whichever comes first. 7/13/2020 update: at this time, the investigation into this incident is still ongoing. We are expecting initial results from a 3rd party testing facility within the next 14 days. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts are known, whichever comes first. 8/13/2020 update: at this time, we have received results from a 3rd party vendor and are in the final stages of the investigation. I will provide an update in 30 days or once all the facts or known, whichever comes first. 4/16/2021 final update: the wrong tooling was selected for the purposes of the job. The stopple equipment used was rated for 150 psi and the pipe was operating at 190 psi. This was a result of confusing language in the manufactures equipment listing table , human error, and gaps in a tool selection process. |
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