Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2020-11-04 — AL
Operator
Spire Alabama Inc.
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$20,260
Incident datetime
2020-11-04 12:45
Report number
Location
AL, JEFFERSON
Narrative
Operator crews were in the process of replacing a valve on a 12" steel main at the referenced address. A segment had been disconnected and removed by use of stopper fittings. The remaining in-service main was not secured by using anchors or other methods of reinforcement. Line pressure forced this segment of pipeline loose from an upstream coupling at approximately 12:45 pm on november 4. Gas was stopped at 3:45 pm the same day. At approximately 4:20 pm the operator determined that this event would be reportable due to estimating the unintentional release of gas to exceed 3 million cubic feet.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2020-11-04 12:45:00
Year
2020
Report Received Date
2020-12-04 00:00:00
Iyear
2020.0
Report Number
20200123.0
Supplemental Number
34593.0
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
Name
Spire Alabama Inc.
Operator Street Address
605 Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard North
Operator City Name
Birmingham
Operator State Abbreviation
AL
Operator Postal Code
35203
Local Datetime
2020-11-04 16:20:00
Location Street Address
39th Avenue North And Fairmont St
Location City Name
Birmingham
Location County Name
Jefferson
Location State Abbreviation
AL
Location Postal Code
35207
Location Latitude
33.561626
Location Longitude
-86.814843
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2020-11-04 16:45:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1291420
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
8000.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
10.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2020-11-04 12:45:00
On Site Datetime
2020-11-04 12:45:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
72.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1959.0
Pipe Diameter
12.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
20260.0
Est Cost Emergency
8001.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
20880.0
Prpty
49141.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
10.0
Accident Psig
146.0
Normal Psig
146.0
Mop Psig
150.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
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
It was apparent that the incident was not caused by control room actions.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
Pipe Segment Was Not Effectively Anchored During Construction Replacement.
Related Inadequate Proc Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
B*** M****
Preparer Title
Pipeline Safety Manager
Preparer Email
B*********@s**********.com
Preparer Telephone
2512889616
Authorizer Name
C**** H********
Authorizer Title
Vice President Operations Services And Sms
Authorizer Telephone
3143492972
Authorizer Email
C**************@s**********.com
Narrative
Operator crews were in the process of replacing a valve on a 12" steel main at the referenced address. A segment had been disconnected and removed by use of stopper fittings. The remaining in-service main was not secured by using anchors or other methods of reinforcement. Line pressure forced this segment of pipeline loose from an upstream coupling at approximately 12:45 pm on november 4. Gas was stopped at 3:45 pm the same day. At approximately 4:20 pm the operator determined that this event would be reportable due to estimating the unintentional release of gas to exceed 3 million cubic feet.
| Occurred At | 2020-11-04 12:45:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2020 |
| Report Received Date | 2020-12-04 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2020.0 |
| Report Number | 20200123.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 34593.0 |
| Report Type | Original Final |
| Operator Id | 180 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Spire Alabama Inc. |
| Operator Street Address | 605 Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard North |
| Operator City Name | Birmingham |
| Operator State Abbreviation | AL |
| Operator Postal Code | 35203 |
| Local Datetime | 2020-11-04 16:20:00 |
| Location Street Address | 39th Avenue North And Fairmont St |
| Location City Name | Birmingham |
| Location County Name | Jefferson |
| Location State Abbreviation | AL |
| Location Postal Code | 35207 |
| Location Latitude | 33.561626 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -86.814843 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2020-11-04 16:45:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1291420 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 8000.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 10.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2020-11-04 12:45:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2020-11-04 12:45:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 72.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1959.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 12.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Unknown |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 20260.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 8001.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 20880.0 |
| Prpty | 49141.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 10.0 |
| Accident Psig | 146.0 |
| Normal Psig | 146.0 |
| Mop Psig | 150.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| 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 | It was apparent that the incident was not caused by control room actions. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | Pipe Segment Was Not Effectively Anchored During Construction Replacement. |
| Related Inadequate Proc Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Construction |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | B*** M**** |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Safety Manager |
| Preparer Email | B*********@s**********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 2512889616 |
| Authorizer Name | C**** H******** |
| Authorizer Title | Vice President Operations Services And Sms |
| Authorizer Telephone | 3143492972 |
| Authorizer Email | C**************@s**********.com |
| Narrative | Operator crews were in the process of replacing a valve on a 12" steel main at the referenced address. A segment had been disconnected and removed by use of stopper fittings. The remaining in-service main was not secured by using anchors or other methods of reinforcement. Line pressure forced this segment of pipeline loose from an upstream coupling at approximately 12:45 pm on november 4. Gas was stopped at 3:45 pm the same day. At approximately 4:20 pm the operator determined that this event would be reportable due to estimating the unintentional release of gas to exceed 3 million cubic feet. |
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