GTG incident on 2024-06-28 — PA

Operator
Ugi Utilities, Inc
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$65,047
Incident datetime
2024-06-28 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
PA
Narrative
On may 30, 2024, a body vent fitting on an above-ground 12-inch valve began leaking to atmosphere after it was operated as part of an in-line inspection of a natural gas transmission pipeline. The 12-inch valve was associated with the isolation of a pig receiver location involved in the in-line inspection project. The leak was continuously monitored by ugi personnel until the valve was replaced on june 18, 2024. On july 7, 2025, a supplemental and final report is being filed to provide updated incident information. Ugi consulted with the valve manufacturer who examined and investigated the valve. Ugi subsequently performed a root cause analysis of the event. Ugi concluded that the root cause of this event was attributable to the valve seals that were exposed to debris such as weld slag. Weld slag was found embedded into the seals and did not allow the valve to seal completely. The body bleed valve also did not seal and was stripped while being operated and leaked continuously to atmosphere for a short duration. Ugi was able to stop the leak until the final repair could be made. Based on the small opening of the body bleed valve, the escaping gas was negligible.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2024-06-28 00:00:00
Iyear
2024
Report Number
20240086
Supplemental Number
41124
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Ugi Utilities, Inc
Operator Street Address
1 Ugi Drive
Operator City Name
Denver
Operator State Abbreviation
PA
Operator Postal Code
17517
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Num
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1401182
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1
Intentional Release
13.8
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
No
Shutdown Explain
The Leak Was Made Safe, But Monitored 24/7 Until A Permanent Repair Was Made.
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
Upstream Valves Were Checked For Proper Operation In Case Of Emergency.
Downstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
No Action Was Taken As The Incident Area Was Already Isolated From The Down Stream System.
Num Pub Evacuated
0
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Pa
Onshore Postal Code
18407
Onshore City Name
Carbondale
Onshore County Name
Lackawanna
Designated Location
Not Applicable
Pipe Fac Name
Uniondale 24
Segment Name
Valve 886642
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Scraper/pig Trap
Installation Year
2017
Manufactured Year
2016
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Body Bleed Valve Leaking
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Could Be Hca
Yes
Determination Method
Method2
Pir Radius
527
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
5
Est Cost Intentional Release
65
Est Cost Prop Damage
65047
Est Cost Emergency
332638
Est Cost Other
0
Gas Cost In Mcf
4.71
Prpty
397755
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
890
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf
0
Mop Psig
1014
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(1)
Maop Established Date
2017-11-01 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
200
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission Line Of Distribution System
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
The actions of gas control personnel did not contribute to this incident nor impact emergency response activities.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Type
Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Details
Debris Found In Internal Valve Seat Resulting In Inability For Valve To Seal Completely.
Additional Erosion Wear Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
C*** R*****
Preparer Title
Standards Engineer
Preparer Email
C******@u**.com
Preparer Telephone
484-577-6666
Local Contact Name
J*** T*****
Local Contact Email
J******@u**.com
Local Contact Telephone
717-675-4606
Authorizer Name
P***** J*****
Authorizer Title
Vp Ehs And Technical Support
Authorizer Telephone
484-824-5508
Authorizer Email
P******@u**.com
Narrative
On may 30, 2024, a body vent fitting on an above-ground 12-inch valve began leaking to atmosphere after it was operated as part of an in-line inspection of a natural gas transmission pipeline. The 12-inch valve was associated with the isolation of a pig receiver location involved in the in-line inspection project. The leak was continuously monitored by ugi personnel until the valve was replaced on june 18, 2024. On july 7, 2025, a supplemental and final report is being filed to provide updated incident information. Ugi consulted with the valve manufacturer who examined and investigated the valve. Ugi subsequently performed a root cause analysis of the event. Ugi concluded that the root cause of this event was attributable to the valve seals that were exposed to debris such as weld slag. Weld slag was found embedded into the seals and did not allow the valve to seal completely. The body bleed valve also did not seal and was stripped while being operated and leaked continuously to atmosphere for a short duration. Ugi was able to stop the leak until the final repair could be made. Based on the small opening of the body bleed valve, the escaping gas was negligible.
Report Received Date 2024-06-28 00:00:00
Iyear 2024
Report Number 20240086
Supplemental Number 41124
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 20010 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Ugi Utilities, Inc
Operator Street Address 1 Ugi Drive
Operator City Name Denver
Operator State Abbreviation PA
Operator Postal Code 17517
Time Zone Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind Yes
Location Latitude 41.579134 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -75.501083 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Num 1400965 NRC Report How to search
Additional Nrc Report Numbers 1401182
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
Unintentional Release 1
Intentional Release 13.8
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 No
Shutdown Explain The Leak Was Made Safe, But Monitored 24/7 Until A Permanent Repair Was Made.
Communication State Fed Ind No
Ignite Ind No
Upstream Action Taken Operational Control
Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail Upstream Valves Were Checked For Proper Operation In Case Of Emergency.
Downstream Action Taken Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail No Action Was Taken As The Incident Area Was Already Isolated From The Down Stream System.
Num Pub Evacuated 0
On Off Shore Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation Pa
Onshore Postal Code 18407
Onshore City Name Carbondale
Onshore County Name Lackawanna
Designated Location Not Applicable
Pipe Fac Name Uniondale 24
Segment Name Valve 886642
Federal No
Location Type Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Intrastate
System Part Involved Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved Scraper/pig Trap
Installation Year 2017
Manufactured Year 2016
Material Involved Carbon Steel
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Other
Leak Type Other Body Bleed Valve Leaking
Class Location Type Class 3 Location
Could Be Hca Yes
Determination Method Method2
Pir Radius 527
Heat Damage Ind No
Non Heat Damage Ind No
Est Cost Oper Paid 0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 5
Est Cost Intentional Release 65
Est Cost Prop Damage 65047
Est Cost Emergency 332638
Est Cost Other 0
Gas Cost In Mcf 4.71
Prpty 397755
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 890
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf 0
Mop Psig 1014
Mop Cfr Section 192.619(A)(1) View CFR 49 §192
Maop Established Date 2017-11-01 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 200
Internal Inspection Ind Yes
Operation Complications Ind No
Pipeline Function Transmission Line Of Distribution System
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 The actions of gas control personnel did not contribute to this incident nor impact emergency response activities.
Employee Drug Test Ind No
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Equipment Failure
Cause Details Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Type Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Details Debris Found In Internal Valve Seat Resulting In Inability For Valve To Seal Completely.
Additional Erosion Wear Ind Yes
Preparer Name C*** R*****
Preparer Title Standards Engineer
Preparer Email C******@u**.com
Preparer Telephone 484-577-6666
Local Contact Name J*** T*****
Local Contact Email J******@u**.com
Local Contact Telephone 717-675-4606
Authorizer Name P***** J*****
Authorizer Title Vp Ehs And Technical Support
Authorizer Telephone 484-824-5508
Authorizer Email P******@u**.com
Narrative On may 30, 2024, a body vent fitting on an above-ground 12-inch valve began leaking to atmosphere after it was operated as part of an in-line inspection of a natural gas transmission pipeline. The 12-inch valve was associated with the isolation of a pig receiver location involved in the in-line inspection project. The leak was continuously monitored by ugi personnel until the valve was replaced on june 18, 2024. On july 7, 2025, a supplemental and final report is being filed to provide updated incident information. Ugi consulted with the valve manufacturer who examined and investigated the valve. Ugi subsequently performed a root cause analysis of the event. Ugi concluded that the root cause of this event was attributable to the valve seals that were exposed to debris such as weld slag. Weld slag was found embedded into the seals and did not allow the valve to seal completely. The body bleed valve also did not seal and was stripped while being operated and leaked continuously to atmosphere for a short duration. Ugi was able to stop the leak until the final repair could be made. Based on the small opening of the body bleed valve, the escaping gas was negligible.

All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA