Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2022-03-13 — MI
Operator
Semco Energy Gas Company
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$166,100
Incident datetime
2022-03-13 01:55
Report number
Location
MI, HOUGHTON
Narrative
On march 13, 2022, at 1:58, am, semco energy gas company received a call from the michigan state police indicating 908 college ave., in houghton, mi had exploded. The semco technician arrived on site 21 minutes after the initial call, (indicated time is 3:19 am due to daylight savings time changing at 2:00 am on march 13th). When the semco technician arrived, the houghton fire dept. Was attending to a fire at the structure. Once the fire was under control, the technician was able to secure gas at the gas meter set. Through the leak investigation process, the technician determined there was a probable underground leak based on lel readings found at the rear of the residence. The technician continued the leak investigation and found gas readings at surrounding buildings and evacuated buildings on college ave. And on e lakeshore. Gas flow was then shutoff in the area in which readings were found and gas was purged in those areas to reduce gas to safe levels. An investigation into the source of the gas leak was conducted in the spring when ground conditions permitted. A camera was used to evaluate the inside of the pipe that was shut down due to the leak. That process indicated a deformation, which then led to an excavation to evaluate. The 2 in. Steel gas main was found to be damaged at the crossing of a sanitary sewer line. The damage on the pipe was consistent with the dimensions of an excavator bucket. A metallurgical examination of the pipe reported the damage consisted of overall bending deformation, flattening of the pipe, and damage to the protective coating on the exterior of the pipe. This damage weakened the pipe making it more susceptible to fracture or cracking from external forces such as freeze/thaw cycles. Gas leaked from a crack in the pipe and migrated through the frozen ground and into the house at 908 college ave. The metallurgical examination also reported the fracture in the gas main was brittle and did not exhibit wall thinning or corrosion to suggest the crack or a partial crack originated years prior to the explosion. During the investigation and excavation of the damaged pipe, the initial observation before the pipe was exposed indicated a hollowing of the soil near the found crack, and no evidence of dry dirt or hardening of the soil consistent with a longstanding gas leak. Photos obtained through a foia request indicated the natural gas main was located and marked by semco, a fact consistent with semco's locating records. Based on the records and photos obtained, it is reasonable to believe the excavator dug without hand exposing the gas main, and after the michigan one call ticket had expired. Photos showing the time stamp indicate the damage likely occurred between august 27th and august 28th, 2008. The excavator also appeared to have damaged conduit for a telecommunications line. Semco energy was never notified of the damage to the pipe during the sewer construction. Based on the information gathered during the investigation, metallurgical evaluation, and information requests, semco considers the investigation to be completed.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2022-03-13 01:55:00
Year
2022
Report Received Date
2022-04-12 00:00:00
Iyear
2022.0
Report Number
20220030.0
Supplemental Number
39125.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
18472
Name
Semco Energy Gas Company
Operator Street Address
1411 Third Street
Operator City Name
Port Huron
Operator State Abbreviation
MI
Operator Postal Code
48060
Local Datetime
2022-03-13 01:55:00
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Street Address
908 College Avenue
Location City Name
Houghton
Location County Name
Houghton
Location State Abbreviation
MI
Location Postal Code
49931
Location Latitude
47.12209
Location Longitude
-88.56263
Flow Cont Main Valve Ind
Yes
Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2022-03-13 09:05:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1330926
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
69.457
Intentional Release
0.113
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Ignite Datetime
2022-03-13 01:55:00
How Extinguished
Local/state/federal Emergency Responder
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
1
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
30.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2022-03-13 01:55:00
On Site Datetime
2022-03-13 03:19:00
Confirmed Discovery Datetime
2022-03-13 03:49:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Private Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Pavement
Depth Of Cover
48.0
Other Underground Facilities
Yes
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1966.0
Pipe Diameter
2.0
Pipe Specification
Api 5l, Seamless Steel, Grade B
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Seamless
Wt Steel
0.17
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
500000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
166100.0
Est Cost Emergency
710001.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Gas Cost In Mcf
5.82
Est Cost Unintentional Release
404.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
1.0
Prpty
1376506.0
Commercial Affected
12.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
6.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
5.0
Num Business Building Affctd
10.0
Accident Psig
55.0
Normal Psig
55.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1966-10-11 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Gas Odorized System Type
Injection Pump
Gas Odorized Level
2
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 Emergency Responder
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
The rate of gas volume released would not have triggered any alarms or aocs through the scada system, and therefore the controllers would not have taken action.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Previous Damage Due To Excavation Activity
Ex Party Type
Previous Damage Due To Excavation Activity
Ex Hydrotest Leak Survey Date
2021-07-20 00:00:00
Ex Hydrotest Conducted Ind
No
Prior Notification Ind
Yes
One Call System Ind
Yes
State Law Exempt Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Public Row Ind
Yes
Public Subtype
City Street
Joint Trench Ind
No
Cross Bore Ind
No
Depth Of Grade
> 36�
Excavator Type
Contractor
Excavator Equipment
Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed
Sewer (Sanitary/storm)
One Call Notified Ind
Yes
One Call Ticket Num
Mib82061284
One Call Center Name
Gladstone Michigan
White Lined Ind
No
Locator Type
Facility Owner
Visible Marks
Unknown/other
Service Interruption
Yes
Service Interruption Hours
188.0
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Excavator Dug Prior To Verifying Marks By Test-Hole (Pothole)
Preparer Name
J******* P***
Preparer Title
Manager Of Codes And Standards
Preparer Email
J************@s**********.com
Preparer Telephone
8102422381
Local Contact Name
M*** K****
Local Contact Email
M************@s**********.com
Local Contact Telephone
(906) 250-7196
Authorizer Name
P*** L***
Authorizer Title
Director Of Operations Support
Authorizer Telephone
8106503774
Authorizer Email
P********@s**********.com
Narrative
On march 13, 2022, at 1:58, am, semco energy gas company received a call from the michigan state police indicating 908 college ave., in houghton, mi had exploded. The semco technician arrived on site 21 minutes after the initial call, (indicated time is 3:19 am due to daylight savings time changing at 2:00 am on march 13th). When the semco technician arrived, the houghton fire dept. Was attending to a fire at the structure. Once the fire was under control, the technician was able to secure gas at the gas meter set. Through the leak investigation process, the technician determined there was a probable underground leak based on lel readings found at the rear of the residence. The technician continued the leak investigation and found gas readings at surrounding buildings and evacuated buildings on college ave. And on e lakeshore. Gas flow was then shutoff in the area in which readings were found and gas was purged in those areas to reduce gas to safe levels. An investigation into the source of the gas leak was conducted in the spring when ground conditions permitted. A camera was used to evaluate the inside of the pipe that was shut down due to the leak. That process indicated a deformation, which then led to an excavation to evaluate. The 2 in. Steel gas main was found to be damaged at the crossing of a sanitary sewer line. The damage on the pipe was consistent with the dimensions of an excavator bucket. A metallurgical examination of the pipe reported the damage consisted of overall bending deformation, flattening of the pipe, and damage to the protective coating on the exterior of the pipe. This damage weakened the pipe making it more susceptible to fracture or cracking from external forces such as freeze/thaw cycles. Gas leaked from a crack in the pipe and migrated through the frozen ground and into the house at 908 college ave. The metallurgical examination also reported the fracture in the gas main was brittle and did not exhibit wall thinning or corrosion to suggest the crack or a partial crack originated years prior to the explosion. During the investigation and excavation of the damaged pipe, the initial observation before the pipe was exposed indicated a hollowing of the soil near the found crack, and no evidence of dry dirt or hardening of the soil consistent with a longstanding gas leak. Photos obtained through a foia request indicated the natural gas main was located and marked by semco, a fact consistent with semco's locating records. Based on the records and photos obtained, it is reasonable to believe the excavator dug without hand exposing the gas main, and after the michigan one call ticket had expired. Photos showing the time stamp indicate the damage likely occurred between august 27th and august 28th, 2008. The excavator also appeared to have damaged conduit for a telecommunications line. Semco energy was never notified of the damage to the pipe during the sewer construction. Based on the information gathered during the investigation, metallurgical evaluation, and information requests, semco considers the investigation to be completed.
| Occurred At | 2022-03-13 01:55:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2022 |
| Report Received Date | 2022-04-12 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2022.0 |
| Report Number | 20220030.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 39125.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 18472 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Semco Energy Gas Company |
| Operator Street Address | 1411 Third Street |
| Operator City Name | Port Huron |
| Operator State Abbreviation | MI |
| Operator Postal Code | 48060 |
| Local Datetime | 2022-03-13 01:55:00 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Street Address | 908 College Avenue |
| Location City Name | Houghton |
| Location County Name | Houghton |
| Location State Abbreviation | MI |
| Location Postal Code | 49931 |
| Location Latitude | 47.12209 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -88.56263 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Main Valve Ind | Yes |
| Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2022-03-13 09:05:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1330926 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 69.457 |
| Intentional Release | 0.113 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Ignite Datetime | 2022-03-13 01:55:00 |
| How Extinguished | Local/state/federal Emergency Responder |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 1 |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 30.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2022-03-13 01:55:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2022-03-13 03:19:00 |
| Confirmed Discovery Datetime | 2022-03-13 03:49:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Private Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Pavement |
| Depth Of Cover | 48.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | Yes |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1966.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 2.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l, Seamless Steel, Grade B |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Seamless |
| Wt Steel | 0.17 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 500000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 166100.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 710001.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 5.82 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 404.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 1.0 |
| Prpty | 1376506.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 12.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 6.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 5.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 10.0 |
| Accident Psig | 55.0 |
| Normal Psig | 55.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1966-10-11 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Gas Odorized System Type | Injection Pump |
| Gas Odorized Level | 2 |
| 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 Emergency Responder |
| 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 | The rate of gas volume released would not have triggered any alarms or aocs through the scada system, and therefore the controllers would not have taken action. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Previous Damage Due To Excavation Activity |
| Ex Party Type | Previous Damage Due To Excavation Activity |
| Ex Hydrotest Leak Survey Date | 2021-07-20 00:00:00 |
| Ex Hydrotest Conducted Ind | No |
| Prior Notification Ind | Yes |
| One Call System Ind | Yes |
| State Law Exempt Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Public Row Ind | Yes |
| Public Subtype | City Street |
| Joint Trench Ind | No |
| Cross Bore Ind | No |
| Depth Of Grade | > 36� |
| Excavator Type | Contractor |
| Excavator Equipment | Backhoe/trackhoe |
| Work Performed | Sewer (Sanitary/storm) |
| One Call Notified Ind | Yes |
| One Call Ticket Num | Mib82061284 |
| One Call Center Name | Gladstone Michigan |
| White Lined Ind | No |
| Locator Type | Facility Owner |
| Visible Marks | Unknown/other |
| Service Interruption | Yes |
| Service Interruption Hours | 188.0 |
| Root Cause Category | Excavation Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Excavator Dug Prior To Verifying Marks By Test-Hole (Pothole) |
| Preparer Name | J******* P*** |
| Preparer Title | Manager Of Codes And Standards |
| Preparer Email | J************@s**********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 8102422381 |
| Local Contact Name | M*** K**** |
| Local Contact Email | M************@s**********.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | (906) 250-7196 |
| Authorizer Name | P*** L*** |
| Authorizer Title | Director Of Operations Support |
| Authorizer Telephone | 8106503774 |
| Authorizer Email | P********@s**********.com |
| Narrative | On march 13, 2022, at 1:58, am, semco energy gas company received a call from the michigan state police indicating 908 college ave., in houghton, mi had exploded. The semco technician arrived on site 21 minutes after the initial call, (indicated time is 3:19 am due to daylight savings time changing at 2:00 am on march 13th). When the semco technician arrived, the houghton fire dept. Was attending to a fire at the structure. Once the fire was under control, the technician was able to secure gas at the gas meter set. Through the leak investigation process, the technician determined there was a probable underground leak based on lel readings found at the rear of the residence. The technician continued the leak investigation and found gas readings at surrounding buildings and evacuated buildings on college ave. And on e lakeshore. Gas flow was then shutoff in the area in which readings were found and gas was purged in those areas to reduce gas to safe levels. An investigation into the source of the gas leak was conducted in the spring when ground conditions permitted. A camera was used to evaluate the inside of the pipe that was shut down due to the leak. That process indicated a deformation, which then led to an excavation to evaluate. The 2 in. Steel gas main was found to be damaged at the crossing of a sanitary sewer line. The damage on the pipe was consistent with the dimensions of an excavator bucket. A metallurgical examination of the pipe reported the damage consisted of overall bending deformation, flattening of the pipe, and damage to the protective coating on the exterior of the pipe. This damage weakened the pipe making it more susceptible to fracture or cracking from external forces such as freeze/thaw cycles. Gas leaked from a crack in the pipe and migrated through the frozen ground and into the house at 908 college ave. The metallurgical examination also reported the fracture in the gas main was brittle and did not exhibit wall thinning or corrosion to suggest the crack or a partial crack originated years prior to the explosion. During the investigation and excavation of the damaged pipe, the initial observation before the pipe was exposed indicated a hollowing of the soil near the found crack, and no evidence of dry dirt or hardening of the soil consistent with a longstanding gas leak. Photos obtained through a foia request indicated the natural gas main was located and marked by semco, a fact consistent with semco's locating records. Based on the records and photos obtained, it is reasonable to believe the excavator dug without hand exposing the gas main, and after the michigan one call ticket had expired. Photos showing the time stamp indicate the damage likely occurred between august 27th and august 28th, 2008. The excavator also appeared to have damaged conduit for a telecommunications line. Semco energy was never notified of the damage to the pipe during the sewer construction. Based on the information gathered during the investigation, metallurgical evaluation, and information requests, semco considers the investigation to be completed. |
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