Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2021-03-05 — TX
Operator
Centerpoint Energy Resources Corporation
Cause
Notification Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
3 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$166,000
Incident datetime
2021-03-05 10:28
Report number
Location
TX, HARRIS
Narrative
A cable contractor, texas best llc, (working under expired locate tickets), conducting directional drilling operations damaged centerpoint energy's 2" inch plastic main at approximately 10:28am on march 5, 2021. Escaping gas from third-party damage ignited as centerpoint energy employees were working in a remote bell-hole to stop the leak. Six employees were injured, with three requiring hospitalization. An investigation of the ignition event is underway." after subsequent investigation it was determined that gas escaping from the damaged two inch plastic main migrated to the remote bell-hole. While expanding the bell-hole centerpoint crew utilizing mechanical excavation damaged a (120 volt) street light cable which resulted in ignition of migrating gas. The radiant heat from the burning gas melted the already exposed six inch plastic main that was in the bell-hole.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2021-03-05 10:28:00
Year
2021
Report Received Date
2021-04-02 00:00:00
Iyear
2021.0
Report Number
20210038.0
Supplemental Number
35926.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
4499
Name
Centerpoint Energy Resources Corporation
Operator Street Address
1111 Louisiana St
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2021-03-05 18:00:00
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Street Address
18700 Gleannloch Lakes Blvd
Location City Name
Spring
Location County Name
Harris
Location State Abbreviation
TX
Location Postal Code
77379
Location Latitude
30.03052778
Location Longitude
-95.56555556
Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2021-03-05 19:02:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1299703
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1299790
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
2975.564
Intentional Release
2171.0
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
Ignite Datetime
2021-03-05 17:40:00
How Extinguished
Operator/contractor
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
2171
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
10.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2021-03-05 10:28:00
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Initial Responder Com Datetime
2021-03-05 17:40:00
On Site Datetime
2021-03-05 11:03:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
36.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1998.0
Pipe Diameter
2.25
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11.5
Material Pe Pipe Code
2406
Release Type
Mechanical Puncture
Puncture Axial
1.0
Puncture Circum
1.5
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
75000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
166000.0
Est Cost Emergency
45000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Gas Cost In Mcf
5.1102
Est Cost Unintentional Release
15206.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
11094.0
Prpty
312300.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
262.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
3.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
262.0
Num Business Building Affctd
0.0
Accident Psig
45.0
Normal Psig
45.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(1)
Maop Established Date
1998-05-01 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Gas Odorized System Type
Combination Of Odorization Types
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
Notification From Third Party That Caused The Incident
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
Release did not exceed the threshold limits of the system
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
9
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Prior Notification Ind
No
State Law Exempt Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Public Row Ind
Yes
Public Subtype
City Street
Public Util Easement Row Ind
Yes
Excavator Type
Contractor
Excavator Equipment
Directional Drilling
Work Performed
Cable Tv
One Call Notified Ind
No
Service Interruption
Yes
Service Interruption Hours
40.0
Root Cause Category
Notification Issue
Root Cause Type
No Notification Made To The One-Call Center/811
Excvtn Dmg Third Party Ind
Yes
Io Follow Procedure Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
L***** J D********
Preparer Title
Compliance Coordinator
Preparer Email
L***************@c****************.com
Preparer Telephone
713-539-5395
Preparer Fax
713-967-7307
Local Contact Name
L***** J D********
Local Contact Email
L***************@c****************.com
Local Contact Telephone
713-539-5395
Authorizer Name
S**** Y********
Authorizer Title
Director Regional Operations Gas
Authorizer Telephone
713-207-5700
Authorizer Email
S**************@c****************.com
Narrative
A cable contractor, texas best llc, (working under expired locate tickets), conducting directional drilling operations damaged centerpoint energy's 2" inch plastic main at approximately 10:28am on march 5, 2021. Escaping gas from third-party damage ignited as centerpoint energy employees were working in a remote bell-hole to stop the leak. Six employees were injured, with three requiring hospitalization. An investigation of the ignition event is underway." after subsequent investigation it was determined that gas escaping from the damaged two inch plastic main migrated to the remote bell-hole. While expanding the bell-hole centerpoint crew utilizing mechanical excavation damaged a (120 volt) street light cable which resulted in ignition of migrating gas. The radiant heat from the burning gas melted the already exposed six inch plastic main that was in the bell-hole.
| Occurred At | 2021-03-05 10:28:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
| Report Received Date | 2021-04-02 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2021.0 |
| Report Number | 20210038.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 35926.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 4499 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Centerpoint Energy Resources Corporation |
| Operator Street Address | 1111 Louisiana St |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2021-03-05 18:00:00 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Street Address | 18700 Gleannloch Lakes Blvd |
| Location City Name | Spring |
| Location County Name | Harris |
| Location State Abbreviation | TX |
| Location Postal Code | 77379 |
| Location Latitude | 30.03052778 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.56555556 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2021-03-05 19:02:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1299703 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1299790 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 2975.564 |
| Intentional Release | 2171.0 |
| 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 |
| Ignite Datetime | 2021-03-05 17:40:00 |
| How Extinguished | Operator/contractor |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 2171 |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 10.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2021-03-05 10:28:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Initial Responder Com Datetime | 2021-03-05 17:40:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2021-03-05 11:03:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 36.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1998.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 2.25 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11.5 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2406 |
| Release Type | Mechanical Puncture |
| Puncture Axial | 1.0 |
| Puncture Circum | 1.5 |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 75000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 166000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 45000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 5.1102 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 15206.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 11094.0 |
| Prpty | 312300.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 262.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 3.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 262.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 45.0 |
| Normal Psig | 45.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(1) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1998-05-01 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Gas Odorized System Type | Combination Of Odorization Types |
| 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 | Notification From Third Party That Caused The Incident |
| 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 | Release did not exceed the threshold limits of the system |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 9 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Prior Notification Ind | No |
| State Law Exempt Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Public Row Ind | Yes |
| Public Subtype | City Street |
| Public Util Easement Row Ind | Yes |
| Excavator Type | Contractor |
| Excavator Equipment | Directional Drilling |
| Work Performed | Cable Tv |
| One Call Notified Ind | No |
| Service Interruption | Yes |
| Service Interruption Hours | 40.0 |
| Root Cause Category | Notification Issue |
| Root Cause Type | No Notification Made To The One-Call Center/811 |
| Excvtn Dmg Third Party Ind | Yes |
| Io Follow Procedure Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | L***** J D******** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Coordinator |
| Preparer Email | L***************@c****************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 713-539-5395 |
| Preparer Fax | 713-967-7307 |
| Local Contact Name | L***** J D******** |
| Local Contact Email | L***************@c****************.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 713-539-5395 |
| Authorizer Name | S**** Y******** |
| Authorizer Title | Director Regional Operations Gas |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713-207-5700 |
| Authorizer Email | S**************@c****************.com |
| Narrative | A cable contractor, texas best llc, (working under expired locate tickets), conducting directional drilling operations damaged centerpoint energy's 2" inch plastic main at approximately 10:28am on march 5, 2021. Escaping gas from third-party damage ignited as centerpoint energy employees were working in a remote bell-hole to stop the leak. Six employees were injured, with three requiring hospitalization. An investigation of the ignition event is underway." after subsequent investigation it was determined that gas escaping from the damaged two inch plastic main migrated to the remote bell-hole. While expanding the bell-hole centerpoint crew utilizing mechanical excavation damaged a (120 volt) street light cable which resulted in ignition of migrating gas. The radiant heat from the burning gas melted the already exposed six inch plastic main that was in the bell-hole. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA