Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2024-03-26 — NC
Operator
Piedmont Natural Gas Co Inc
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$189,744
Incident datetime
2024-03-26 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
NC, BRUNSWICK
Narrative
On february 29, 2024, at 10:08am in leland, nc a piedmont natural gas company crew struck a 4 inch plastic natural gas main when operating mechanical excavation equipment. The equipment made contact with a 2" tapping tee on top of a 4" main, breaking the tee off the main. The escaping gas built up a static charge on the exposed plastic pipe that immediately caused an ignition of the gas. The equipment operator received minor burns and was treated on site and subsequently transported to a medical facility, but not admitted. The equipment operator failed to maintain adequate excavation clearance from the 4" plastic pipe while excavating striking the pipe while digging. The incident resulted in 436 customer outages on february 29th. All customers were back in service on march 1st.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2024-03-26 00:00:00
Iyear
2024.0
Report Number
20240020.0
Supplemental Number
39372.0
Report Type
Original 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
28202.0
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Street Address
Brunswick Forest Parkway
Location City Name
Leland
Location County Name
Brunswick
Location State Abbreviation
NC
Location Postal Code
28451.0
Location Latitude
34.176165
Location Longitude
-78.039242
Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Num
1392655.0
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1392744.0
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
386.36
Intentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
How Extinguished
Allowed To Burn Out
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
386.36
Explode 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
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
48.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
2023.0
Pipe Diameter
4.0
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Wt Plastic Unknown Ind
Unknown
Material Pe Pipe Code
Unknown
Release Type
Mechanical Puncture
Puncture Axial
2.0
Puncture Circum
2.0
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
189744.0
Est Cost Emergency
37600.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Gas Cost In Mcf
3.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
1159.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
228503.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
436.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
1.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
436.0
Num Business Building Affctd
0.0
Accident Psig
58.0
Normal Psig
60.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(1)
Maop Established Date
2008-09-14 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
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
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
An incident in the field occurred and was called in by onsite personnel.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
1
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Operator (First Party)
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Operator (First Party)
Prior Notification Ind
Yes
One Call System Ind
Yes
Excavator Ind
Yes
State Law Exempt Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Pipeline Easement Row Ind
Yes
Joint Trench Ind
No
Cross Bore Ind
No
Depth Of Grade
> 36�
Excavator Type
Utility
Excavator Equipment
Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed
Natural Gas
One Call Notified Ind
Yes
White Lined Ind
Yes
Locator Type
Facility Owner
Visible Marks
Yes
Service Interruption
Yes
Service Interruption Hours
22.0
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above
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
On february 29, 2024, at 10:08am in leland, nc a piedmont natural gas company crew struck a 4 inch plastic natural gas main when operating mechanical excavation equipment. The equipment made contact with a 2" tapping tee on top of a 4" main, breaking the tee off the main. The escaping gas built up a static charge on the exposed plastic pipe that immediately caused an ignition of the gas. The equipment operator received minor burns and was treated on site and subsequently transported to a medical facility, but not admitted. The equipment operator failed to maintain adequate excavation clearance from the 4" plastic pipe while excavating striking the pipe while digging. The incident resulted in 436 customer outages on february 29th. All customers were back in service on march 1st.
| Report Received Date | 2024-03-26 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2024.0 |
| Report Number | 20240020.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 39372.0 |
| Report Type | Original 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 | 28202.0 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Street Address | Brunswick Forest Parkway |
| Location City Name | Leland |
| Location County Name | Brunswick |
| Location State Abbreviation | NC |
| Location Postal Code | 28451.0 |
| Location Latitude | 34.176165 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -78.039242 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1392655.0 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1392744.0 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 386.36 |
| Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| How Extinguished | Allowed To Burn Out |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 386.36 |
| Explode 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 | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 48.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 2023.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 4.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Wt Plastic Unknown Ind | Unknown |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | Unknown |
| Release Type | Mechanical Puncture |
| Puncture Axial | 2.0 |
| Puncture Circum | 2.0 |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 189744.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 37600.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 3.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 1159.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 228503.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 436.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 1.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 436.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 58.0 |
| Normal Psig | 60.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(1) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2008-09-14 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 | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| 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 | An incident in the field occurred and was called in by onsite personnel. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 1 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Operator (First Party) |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Operator (First Party) |
| Prior Notification Ind | Yes |
| One Call System Ind | Yes |
| Excavator Ind | Yes |
| State Law Exempt Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Pipeline Easement Row Ind | Yes |
| Joint Trench Ind | No |
| Cross Bore Ind | No |
| Depth Of Grade | > 36� |
| Excavator Type | Utility |
| Excavator Equipment | Backhoe/trackhoe |
| Work Performed | Natural Gas |
| One Call Notified Ind | Yes |
| White Lined Ind | Yes |
| Locator Type | Facility Owner |
| Visible Marks | Yes |
| Service Interruption | Yes |
| Service Interruption Hours | 22.0 |
| Root Cause Category | Excavation Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above |
| 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 | On february 29, 2024, at 10:08am in leland, nc a piedmont natural gas company crew struck a 4 inch plastic natural gas main when operating mechanical excavation equipment. The equipment made contact with a 2" tapping tee on top of a 4" main, breaking the tee off the main. The escaping gas built up a static charge on the exposed plastic pipe that immediately caused an ignition of the gas. The equipment operator received minor burns and was treated on site and subsequently transported to a medical facility, but not admitted. The equipment operator failed to maintain adequate excavation clearance from the 4" plastic pipe while excavating striking the pipe while digging. The incident resulted in 436 customer outages on february 29th. All customers were back in service on march 1st. |
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