Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2023-05-03 — MI
Operator
Consumers Energy Co
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$3,995,456
Incident datetime
2023-05-03 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
MI, BARRY
Narrative
On april 4, 2023, at approximately 15:21 hours, consumers energy received notification of a possible natural gas leak on the pipeline that crosses the thornapple river near 7307 thornapple lake road nashville, (barry county) michigan. A gas service worker (gsw) was dispatched and arrived onsite at approximately 15:24 hours. The gsw confirmed a leak indication at the thornapple river crossing on a 6-inch high-pressure, steel, single-feed pipeline serving over four thousand downstream customers. A gas distribution supervisor was notified and arrived onsite to assist with the response. Due to extreme flooding conditions and minimal remaining daylight, an initial response plan was implemented to continuously monitor the leak location. A contingency plan also was prepared for immediate containment using emergency valves to isolate the affected segment should the condition worsen during the night. Gas operations and gas engineering also evaluated and assessed the situation in developing a long-term remediation plan. The following day, an incident command structure (ics) was activated because of the potential impact to customers in hastings, mi. The remediation plan was finalized, and implementation was already underway when operations personnel discovered the leak was worsening and due to an anticipated temperature decrease service loss for customers was likely to occur. Consequently, additional communication was undertaken with key stakeholders and customers notifying them of the potential interruption in natural gas service. A high-pressure bypass was installed to allow for faster restoration of natural gas service to impacted customers once the release was contained. On april 6, 2023, gas was shut-off at the leak location by installing pressure control fittings at the east and west sides of the location. Concurrent to the pressure control work, multiple gsw's were turning off affected customers' service-line valve prior to admitting gas back into the system. The bypass was activated at approximately 07:21 hours. Purging from air to gas of the pipeline was performed in stages prior to turning service-line valves and relighting customers. Construction for permanent pipeline replacement was also under way during this time. Customer restoration started on april 7, 2023, and as of this report's date, service has been restored to all impacted customers or they received notification requesting access to their properties for service restoration. Weekly restoration statuses are provided to the michigan public service commission staff. The permanent pipeline replacement required installation of approximately one thousand feet of 6-inch high-pressure steel pipeline. The pipeline replacement was completed, and normal operations resumed on april 11, 2023, at approximately 19:50 hours. The root cause investigation identified the failure of the pipeline crossing the thornapple river was a result of overstress induced by external forces during the flooding event. The combination of accelerated water flow and debris in the waterway exerted significant pressure on the unsecured pipeline, leading to an initial fracture that ultimately resulted in complete separation.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-05-03 00:00:00
Iyear
2023.0
Report Number
20230024.0
Supplemental Number
39284.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2748
Name
Consumers Energy Co
Operator Street Address
One Energy Plaza
Operator City Name
Jackson
Operator State Abbreviation
MI
Operator Postal Code
49201.0
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Street Address
7307 Thornapple Lake Road
Location City Name
Nashville
Location County Name
Barry
Location State Abbreviation
MI
Location Postal Code
49073.0
Location Latitude
42.624544
Location Longitude
-85.147254
Flow Cont Stopple Fitng Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Num
1364022.0
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1364164.0
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
4971.0
Intentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Loss Of Cover
Depth Of Cover
66.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
Yes
Water Crossing Ind
Yes
Water Type
Uncased
Water Name
Thornapple River
Water Depth
Unknown
Water Subtype
Below Water, Pipe On Or Above Bottom
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1950.0
Pipe Diameter
6.0
Pipe Specification
Api 5l
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Longitudinal Erw - Low Frequency
Wt Steel
0.219
Release Type
Rupture
Rupture Orient
Circumferential
Rupture Length
6
Rupture Width
18.8
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
3800.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
3995456.0
Est Cost Emergency
422.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Gas Cost In Mcf
2.16
Est Cost Unintentional Release
10737.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
4010415.0
Commercial Affected
414.0
Industrial Affected
22.0
Residences Affected
4002.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
4002.0
Num Business Building Affctd
436.0
Accident Psig
385.0
Normal Psig
385.0
Mop Psig
400.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(C)
Maop Established Date
1969-11-18 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
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Public
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
Natural Force Damage
Cause Details
Heavy Rains/floods
Natural Force Type
Heavy Rains/floods
Heavy Rains Subtype
Other
Nf Other Details
Rca Results Indicate That Line 1022f Crossing The Thornapple River Failed Due To Overstress From External Forces Exhibited During A Flood Event. Accelerated Water Flow And Debris Applied Stress Onto The Unsecured Pipe Creating An Initial Fracture And Leak That Progressed Into A Full Separation Over Approximately A 13-Hour Period.
Nf Extreme Weather Ind
Yes
Nf Other Ind
Yes
Nf Extreme Weather Details
Flooding Event
Nf Heavy Rains Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
C******* Q* K***
Preparer Title
Principal Engineer Technical Analyst
Preparer Email
C************@c********.com
Preparer Telephone
989-280-2963
Local Contact Name
C******* Q* K***
Local Contact Email
C************@c********.com
Local Contact Telephone
989-280-2963
Authorizer Name
J**** E* P****
Authorizer Title
Senior Manager Engineering
Authorizer Telephone
989-598-5031
Authorizer Email
J**********@c********.com
Narrative
On april 4, 2023, at approximately 15:21 hours, consumers energy received notification of a possible natural gas leak on the pipeline that crosses the thornapple river near 7307 thornapple lake road nashville, (barry county) michigan. A gas service worker (gsw) was dispatched and arrived onsite at approximately 15:24 hours. The gsw confirmed a leak indication at the thornapple river crossing on a 6-inch high-pressure, steel, single-feed pipeline serving over four thousand downstream customers. A gas distribution supervisor was notified and arrived onsite to assist with the response. Due to extreme flooding conditions and minimal remaining daylight, an initial response plan was implemented to continuously monitor the leak location. A contingency plan also was prepared for immediate containment using emergency valves to isolate the affected segment should the condition worsen during the night. Gas operations and gas engineering also evaluated and assessed the situation in developing a long-term remediation plan. The following day, an incident command structure (ics) was activated because of the potential impact to customers in hastings, mi. The remediation plan was finalized, and implementation was already underway when operations personnel discovered the leak was worsening and due to an anticipated temperature decrease service loss for customers was likely to occur. Consequently, additional communication was undertaken with key stakeholders and customers notifying them of the potential interruption in natural gas service. A high-pressure bypass was installed to allow for faster restoration of natural gas service to impacted customers once the release was contained. On april 6, 2023, gas was shut-off at the leak location by installing pressure control fittings at the east and west sides of the location. Concurrent to the pressure control work, multiple gsw's were turning off affected customers' service-line valve prior to admitting gas back into the system. The bypass was activated at approximately 07:21 hours. Purging from air to gas of the pipeline was performed in stages prior to turning service-line valves and relighting customers. Construction for permanent pipeline replacement was also under way during this time. Customer restoration started on april 7, 2023, and as of this report's date, service has been restored to all impacted customers or they received notification requesting access to their properties for service restoration. Weekly restoration statuses are provided to the michigan public service commission staff. The permanent pipeline replacement required installation of approximately one thousand feet of 6-inch high-pressure steel pipeline. The pipeline replacement was completed, and normal operations resumed on april 11, 2023, at approximately 19:50 hours. The root cause investigation identified the failure of the pipeline crossing the thornapple river was a result of overstress induced by external forces during the flooding event. The combination of accelerated water flow and debris in the waterway exerted significant pressure on the unsecured pipeline, leading to an initial fracture that ultimately resulted in complete separation.
| Report Received Date | 2023-05-03 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023.0 |
| Report Number | 20230024.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 39284.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2748 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Consumers Energy Co |
| Operator Street Address | One Energy Plaza |
| Operator City Name | Jackson |
| Operator State Abbreviation | MI |
| Operator Postal Code | 49201.0 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Street Address | 7307 Thornapple Lake Road |
| Location City Name | Nashville |
| Location County Name | Barry |
| Location State Abbreviation | MI |
| Location Postal Code | 49073.0 |
| Location Latitude | 42.624544 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -85.147254 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Stopple Fitng Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1364022.0 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1364164.0 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 4971.0 |
| Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Loss Of Cover |
| Depth Of Cover | 66.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | Yes |
| Water Crossing Ind | Yes |
| Water Type | Uncased |
| Water Name | Thornapple River |
| Water Depth | Unknown |
| Water Subtype | Below Water, Pipe On Or Above Bottom |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1950.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 6.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Longitudinal Erw - Low Frequency |
| Wt Steel | 0.219 |
| Release Type | Rupture |
| Rupture Orient | Circumferential |
| Rupture Length | 6 |
| Rupture Width | 18.8 |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 3800.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 3995456.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 422.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 2.16 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 10737.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 4010415.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 414.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 22.0 |
| Residences Affected | 4002.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 4002.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 436.0 |
| Accident Psig | 385.0 |
| Normal Psig | 385.0 |
| Mop Psig | 400.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(C) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1969-11-18 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 | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Public |
| 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 | Natural Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Heavy Rains/floods |
| Natural Force Type | Heavy Rains/floods |
| Heavy Rains Subtype | Other |
| Nf Other Details | Rca Results Indicate That Line 1022f Crossing The Thornapple River Failed Due To Overstress From External Forces Exhibited During A Flood Event. Accelerated Water Flow And Debris Applied Stress Onto The Unsecured Pipe Creating An Initial Fracture And Leak That Progressed Into A Full Separation Over Approximately A 13-Hour Period. |
| Nf Extreme Weather Ind | Yes |
| Nf Other Ind | Yes |
| Nf Extreme Weather Details | Flooding Event |
| Nf Heavy Rains Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | C******* Q* K*** |
| Preparer Title | Principal Engineer Technical Analyst |
| Preparer Email | C************@c********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 989-280-2963 |
| Local Contact Name | C******* Q* K*** |
| Local Contact Email | C************@c********.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 989-280-2963 |
| Authorizer Name | J**** E* P**** |
| Authorizer Title | Senior Manager Engineering |
| Authorizer Telephone | 989-598-5031 |
| Authorizer Email | J**********@c********.com |
| Narrative | On april 4, 2023, at approximately 15:21 hours, consumers energy received notification of a possible natural gas leak on the pipeline that crosses the thornapple river near 7307 thornapple lake road nashville, (barry county) michigan. A gas service worker (gsw) was dispatched and arrived onsite at approximately 15:24 hours. The gsw confirmed a leak indication at the thornapple river crossing on a 6-inch high-pressure, steel, single-feed pipeline serving over four thousand downstream customers. A gas distribution supervisor was notified and arrived onsite to assist with the response. Due to extreme flooding conditions and minimal remaining daylight, an initial response plan was implemented to continuously monitor the leak location. A contingency plan also was prepared for immediate containment using emergency valves to isolate the affected segment should the condition worsen during the night. Gas operations and gas engineering also evaluated and assessed the situation in developing a long-term remediation plan. The following day, an incident command structure (ics) was activated because of the potential impact to customers in hastings, mi. The remediation plan was finalized, and implementation was already underway when operations personnel discovered the leak was worsening and due to an anticipated temperature decrease service loss for customers was likely to occur. Consequently, additional communication was undertaken with key stakeholders and customers notifying them of the potential interruption in natural gas service. A high-pressure bypass was installed to allow for faster restoration of natural gas service to impacted customers once the release was contained. On april 6, 2023, gas was shut-off at the leak location by installing pressure control fittings at the east and west sides of the location. Concurrent to the pressure control work, multiple gsw's were turning off affected customers' service-line valve prior to admitting gas back into the system. The bypass was activated at approximately 07:21 hours. Purging from air to gas of the pipeline was performed in stages prior to turning service-line valves and relighting customers. Construction for permanent pipeline replacement was also under way during this time. Customer restoration started on april 7, 2023, and as of this report's date, service has been restored to all impacted customers or they received notification requesting access to their properties for service restoration. Weekly restoration statuses are provided to the michigan public service commission staff. The permanent pipeline replacement required installation of approximately one thousand feet of 6-inch high-pressure steel pipeline. The pipeline replacement was completed, and normal operations resumed on april 11, 2023, at approximately 19:50 hours. The root cause investigation identified the failure of the pipeline crossing the thornapple river was a result of overstress induced by external forces during the flooding event. The combination of accelerated water flow and debris in the waterway exerted significant pressure on the unsecured pipeline, leading to an initial fracture that ultimately resulted in complete separation. |
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