Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2022-10-03 — TX
Operator
Texas Republic Utility, Llc
Cause
Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
2 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$5,000
Incident datetime
2022-10-03 12:30
Report number
Location
TX, MONTGOMERY
Narrative
During a hot tap procedure to connect new service to a residence, the electrofusion joint did not seal completely, resulting in a leak. During an attempt to squeeze off the gas supply so repairs could be made, one of two properly grounded squeezers failed. An additional squeezer (also grounded) was brought into the location to squeeze off the supply on that side of the fusion the procedures were adequate and followed for electrofusion and squeeze off. Either a spark from inadvertent contact of metal on metal or static electricity caused the leak to ignite, burning two of our employees. All employees involved where both qualified to perform each task such as electrofusion and squeeze-off. Another note to add is that the new service line was pressure tested prior to tap.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2022-10-03 12:30:00
Year
2022
Report Received Date
2022-10-26 00:00:00
Iyear
2022.0
Report Number
20220068.0
Supplemental Number
38008.0
Report Type
Supplemental
Operator Id
40247
Name
Texas Republic Utility, Llc
Operator Street Address
19926 Keenan Cut Off Rd.
Operator City Name
Montgomery
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77316
Local Datetime
2022-10-03 12:30:00
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Street Address
14020 Grover Creek Dr
Location City Name
Conroe
Location County Name
Montgomery
Location State Abbreviation
TX
Location Postal Code
77303
Location Latitude
30.353107
Location Longitude
-95.362152
Flow Cont Main Valve Ind
Yes
Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2022-10-04 17:27:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1349031
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1349815 (48 Hour Update)
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
2.0
Intentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
2
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
2
Ignite Ind
Yes
Ignite Datetime
2022-10-03 12:30:00
How Extinguished
Operator/contractor
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
2
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2022-10-03 12:30:00
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Initial Responder Com Datetime
2022-10-03 12:33:00
On Site Datetime
2022-10-03 12:33:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
40.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Service Valve
Installation Year
2022.0
Customer Type
Single Family Residential
Was Efv Installed Before Ind
No
Curb Valve Inst Before Inc Ind
Yes
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
4"
Material Pe Pipe Code
2406
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Electrofusion Joint
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
5000.0
Est Cost Emergency
0.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Gas Cost In Mcf
11.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
22.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
5022.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
100.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
50.0
Num Business Building Affctd
0.0
Accident Psig
40.0
Normal Psig
40.0
Mop Psig
70.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2022-01-03 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Gas Odorized System Type
By-Pass
Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind
Yes
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
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
Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Cause Details
Fusion Joint
Pwjf Failure Type
Fusion Joint
Plastic Joint Subtype
Saddle, Electrofusion
Fpw Installed Year
2022
Fpw First Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Fpw Second Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Additional Lack Fusion Ind
Yes
Result Material Ind
Yes
Result Material Subtype
Other
Result Material Details
Saddle Electrofusion Joint Did Not Seal Completely
Hydrotest Conducted Ind
Yes
Hydrotest Conducted Year
2022
Hydrotest Pressure
105
Pwf Installation Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
M****** S****
Preparer Title
Operations Administrator
Preparer Email
M*****@l*****.com
Preparer Telephone
936-539-3500
Preparer Fax
936-539-3501
Local Contact Name
M****** S****
Local Contact Email
M*****@l*****.com
Local Contact Telephone
936-539-3500
Authorizer Name
B**** B**** J*
Authorizer Title
Chief Operating Officer
Authorizer Telephone
936-539-3500
Authorizer Email
B*****@l*****.com
Narrative
During a hot tap procedure to connect new service to a residence, the electrofusion joint did not seal completely, resulting in a leak. During an attempt to squeeze off the gas supply so repairs could be made, one of two properly grounded squeezers failed. An additional squeezer (also grounded) was brought into the location to squeeze off the supply on that side of the fusion the procedures were adequate and followed for electrofusion and squeeze off. Either a spark from inadvertent contact of metal on metal or static electricity caused the leak to ignite, burning two of our employees. All employees involved where both qualified to perform each task such as electrofusion and squeeze-off. Another note to add is that the new service line was pressure tested prior to tap.
| Occurred At | 2022-10-03 12:30:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2022 |
| Report Received Date | 2022-10-26 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2022.0 |
| Report Number | 20220068.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 38008.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental |
| Operator Id | 40247 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Texas Republic Utility, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 19926 Keenan Cut Off Rd. |
| Operator City Name | Montgomery |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77316 |
| Local Datetime | 2022-10-03 12:30:00 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Street Address | 14020 Grover Creek Dr |
| Location City Name | Conroe |
| Location County Name | Montgomery |
| Location State Abbreviation | TX |
| Location Postal Code | 77303 |
| Location Latitude | 30.353107 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.362152 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Main Valve Ind | Yes |
| Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2022-10-04 17:27:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1349031 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1349815 (48 Hour Update) |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 2.0 |
| Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 2 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 2 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Ignite Datetime | 2022-10-03 12:30:00 |
| How Extinguished | Operator/contractor |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 2 |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2022-10-03 12:30:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Initial Responder Com Datetime | 2022-10-03 12:33:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2022-10-03 12:33:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 40.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Service Valve |
| Installation Year | 2022.0 |
| Customer Type | Single Family Residential |
| Was Efv Installed Before Ind | No |
| Curb Valve Inst Before Inc Ind | Yes |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 4" |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2406 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Electrofusion Joint |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 5000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 11.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 22.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 5022.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 100.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 50.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 40.0 |
| Normal Psig | 40.0 |
| Mop Psig | 70.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2022-01-03 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Gas Odorized System Type | By-Pass |
| Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind | Yes |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| 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 | Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure |
| Cause Details | Fusion Joint |
| Pwjf Failure Type | Fusion Joint |
| Plastic Joint Subtype | Saddle, Electrofusion |
| Fpw Installed Year | 2022 |
| Fpw First Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Fpw Second Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Additional Lack Fusion Ind | Yes |
| Result Material Ind | Yes |
| Result Material Subtype | Other |
| Result Material Details | Saddle Electrofusion Joint Did Not Seal Completely |
| Hydrotest Conducted Ind | Yes |
| Hydrotest Conducted Year | 2022 |
| Hydrotest Pressure | 105 |
| Pwf Installation Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | M****** S**** |
| Preparer Title | Operations Administrator |
| Preparer Email | M*****@l*****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 936-539-3500 |
| Preparer Fax | 936-539-3501 |
| Local Contact Name | M****** S**** |
| Local Contact Email | M*****@l*****.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 936-539-3500 |
| Authorizer Name | B**** B**** J* |
| Authorizer Title | Chief Operating Officer |
| Authorizer Telephone | 936-539-3500 |
| Authorizer Email | B*****@l*****.com |
| Narrative | During a hot tap procedure to connect new service to a residence, the electrofusion joint did not seal completely, resulting in a leak. During an attempt to squeeze off the gas supply so repairs could be made, one of two properly grounded squeezers failed. An additional squeezer (also grounded) was brought into the location to squeeze off the supply on that side of the fusion the procedures were adequate and followed for electrofusion and squeeze off. Either a spark from inadvertent contact of metal on metal or static electricity caused the leak to ignite, burning two of our employees. All employees involved where both qualified to perform each task such as electrofusion and squeeze-off. Another note to add is that the new service line was pressure tested prior to tap. |
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