Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2023-11-21 — NC
Operator
Piedmont Natural Gas Co Inc
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$350,000
Incident datetime
2023-11-21 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
NC
Narrative
Operator was in the process of excavating a valve for the purpose of decommissioning a pipeline. While hand digging the valve, operator discovered a leak on the valve after partially removing the dirt from around the valve. Decommissioning work was stopped and a repair of the leak was initiated. Out of an abundance of caution three nearby homes were temporarily evacuated while assessing the leak. Valve was removed and line 88 was placed on a separate temporary feed. Decommissioning activity resumed following repair. Analysis of the valve was unable to determine the cause of the damage. Prior leak surveys had not revealed a leak. Most recent leak survey was on may 2023. Because this was a pinhole leak, volume of gas released could not be determined.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-11-21 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230108
Supplemental Number
39111
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15518
Name
Piedmont Natural Gas Co Inc
Operator Street Address
525 South Tryon Street
Operator City Name
Charlotte
Operator State Abbreviation
NC
Operator Postal Code
28202
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
34.754957
Location Longitude
-79.32074
Nrc Rpt Num
1382698
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1382822
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
0
Intentional Release
0
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Status When Identified
Normal Operation, Includes Pauses During Maintenance
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
Used Stopples To Isolate Line 1 To Feed To Line 88.
Downstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
Used Stopples To Isolate Line 1 To Feed To Line 88.
Num Pub Evacuated
3
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Nc
Onshore Postal Code
28364
Onshore City Name
Maxton
Onshore County Name
Robeson
Designated Location
Not Applicable
Pipe Fac Name
Line 88
Segment Name
Line 88
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
38
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Mainline
Valve Mainline Type
Ball
Valve Manufacturer
Unknown
Installation Year
2003
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Pinhole
Class Location Type
Class 2 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
68
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Did Occur In Mca Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
350000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Other
0
Gas Cost In Mcf
0
Prpty
350000
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Accident Psig
470
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf
3000
Mop Psig
600
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(1)
Maop Established Date
2003-12-01 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Gas Required Odorized Ind
Yes
Gas Odorized Ind
Yes
Length Segment Isolated
5800
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Tight Mitered Ind
Yes
Other Restrictions Ind
Yes
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
Small Diameter, 4" Diameter Line
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Low Op Pressure Ind
Yes
Low Flow Ind
Yes
Other Complications Ind
Yes
Inspect Comp Details
Small, Diameter, 4" Diameter Line
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
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
Was the result of leak found while digging. Controller was not involved.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Cause Details
Previous Mechanical Damage Not Related To Excavation
Outside Force Type
Previous Mechanical Damage Not Related To Excavation
Preparer Name
C********** R******
Preparer Title
Gas Regulatory Compliance Analyst
Preparer Email
C******************@d**********.com
Preparer Telephone
704-731-4680
Authorizer Name
F***** B****
Authorizer Title
Pipeline Safety Governance Manager
Authorizer Telephone
704-731-4618
Authorizer Email
F***********@d**********.com
Narrative
Operator was in the process of excavating a valve for the purpose of decommissioning a pipeline. While hand digging the valve, operator discovered a leak on the valve after partially removing the dirt from around the valve. Decommissioning work was stopped and a repair of the leak was initiated. Out of an abundance of caution three nearby homes were temporarily evacuated while assessing the leak. Valve was removed and line 88 was placed on a separate temporary feed. Decommissioning activity resumed following repair. Analysis of the valve was unable to determine the cause of the damage. Prior leak surveys had not revealed a leak. Most recent leak survey was on may 2023. Because this was a pinhole leak, volume of gas released could not be determined.
| Report Received Date | 2023-11-21 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230108 |
| Supplemental Number | 39111 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15518 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Piedmont Natural Gas Co Inc |
| Operator Street Address | 525 South Tryon Street |
| Operator City Name | Charlotte |
| Operator State Abbreviation | NC |
| Operator Postal Code | 28202 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 34.754957 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -79.32074 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1382698 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1382822 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 0 |
| Intentional Release | 0 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Status When Identified | Normal Operation, Includes Pauses During Maintenance |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | Used Stopples To Isolate Line 1 To Feed To Line 88. |
| Downstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | Used Stopples To Isolate Line 1 To Feed To Line 88. |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 3 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Nc |
| Onshore Postal Code | 28364 |
| Onshore City Name | Maxton |
| Onshore County Name | Robeson |
| Designated Location | Not Applicable |
| Pipe Fac Name | Line 88 |
| Segment Name | Line 88 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 38 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Mainline |
| Valve Mainline Type | Ball |
| Valve Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Installation Year | 2003 |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Pinhole |
| Class Location Type | Class 2 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 68 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Did Occur In Mca Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 350000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 0 |
| Prpty | 350000 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Accident Psig | 470 |
| Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf | 3000 |
| Mop Psig | 600 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(1) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2003-12-01 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Gas Required Odorized Ind | Yes |
| Gas Odorized Ind | Yes |
| Length Segment Isolated | 5800 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Tight Mitered Ind | Yes |
| Other Restrictions Ind | Yes |
| Other Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Internal Inspection Details | Small Diameter, 4" Diameter Line |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Low Op Pressure Ind | Yes |
| Low Flow Ind | Yes |
| Other Complications Ind | Yes |
| Inspect Comp Details | Small, Diameter, 4" Diameter Line |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Contractor Working For The Operator |
| 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 | Was the result of leak found while digging. Controller was not involved. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Previous Mechanical Damage Not Related To Excavation |
| Outside Force Type | Previous Mechanical Damage Not Related To Excavation |
| Preparer Name | C********** R****** |
| Preparer Title | Gas Regulatory Compliance Analyst |
| Preparer Email | C******************@d**********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 704-731-4680 |
| Authorizer Name | F***** B**** |
| Authorizer Title | Pipeline Safety Governance Manager |
| Authorizer Telephone | 704-731-4618 |
| Authorizer Email | F***********@d**********.com |
| Narrative | Operator was in the process of excavating a valve for the purpose of decommissioning a pipeline. While hand digging the valve, operator discovered a leak on the valve after partially removing the dirt from around the valve. Decommissioning work was stopped and a repair of the leak was initiated. Out of an abundance of caution three nearby homes were temporarily evacuated while assessing the leak. Valve was removed and line 88 was placed on a separate temporary feed. Decommissioning activity resumed following repair. Analysis of the valve was unable to determine the cause of the damage. Prior leak surveys had not revealed a leak. Most recent leak survey was on may 2023. Because this was a pinhole leak, volume of gas released could not be determined. |
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