Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2024-12-05 — IL
Operator
Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co
Cause
Locating Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$5,000
Incident datetime
2024-12-05 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
IL
Narrative
Summary of event on saturday, november 9, 2024, at 1:33 pm local time (central standard time) a contractor performing work for people's gas light & coke (pgl) was doing excavation work adjacent to county road 2700 north at approximate latitude/longitude 40.266609/-88.432686. While performing the excavation work with a backhoe, at the completion of a swipe, the operator heard a pop/hiss and observed gas blowing into the air. The natural gas transmission line being excavated was at approximately 1,750 psig. The contractor personnel contacted pgl employees working in the vicinity. Pgl responded with on shift personnel augmented by off work employees. The area was made safe and the leak was isolated using manual transmission line valves. The affected pipeline was isolated at approximately 3:00 pm and was depressurized to atmospheric pressure at 3:30 pm. At 4:50 pm, pgl estimated the release to exceed 3,000,000 standard cubic feet (scf). Pgl notified the national response center (nrc) at 5:06 pm and the illinois commerce commission (icc) at 5:29 pm. A follow up call was made to the nrc on monday, november 11, 2024 at 2:43 pm, during which pgl reported a calculated release volume of 4.953 mmcf. Causes the direct cause of the release was damage caused by the backhoe shovel contact to surrounding soil and/or installed equipment including the following: a 1" 3,000 psig rated, threaded w-k-m dynaseal quarter turn ball valve installed at the 12 o'clock position on the 12" carbon steel transmission pipeline. On one end (toward atmosphere) of this valve was a 1" hex head plug and on the other end (leading to the 12" pipeline), was a 1"x3" schedule 160 nipple that was screwed into a thread-o-let that was welded to the pipeline. The root cause was as-built drawings were not updated to reflect the above equipment following installation in march 2024. Drawings were not updated because the installation was thought to be temporary in nature to support future purging operations that would be needed for planned construction. Because drawings were not updated, information regarding installation of the equipment was not available to the personnel performing excavation activities. Contributing to the event was the backhoe operator performing excavation within the tolerance zone of 18" of the pipeline. The backhoe operator's operator qualification was removed because of the incident and is pending remediation and requalification. Amount of gas released: based on further calculations using relief valve capacity methodology, pgl has revised the calculated release volume to be 5,163,905 scf. This includes 4,842,969 scf prior to isolation and 320,936 scf following isolation. A 1.25" opening was used during the calculation. This opening provides a conservative calculation related to the 1" threadolet connection, which was forcibly removed by the backhoe and/or adjacent soil being compressed during excavation. Actions taken 1. All work associated with the project was shutdown pending pgl investigation. 2. Direction provided to pgl and contract resources that w-k-m dynasealvalves will not be buried in the future. A plan was developed to address other locations where these style valves have been installed. (update: other locations with valves installed with the same configuration have been removed). 3. Directed pgl and contract resources that anything being installed on pgl facilities is required to be documented in the as-built drawings. 4. Directed contract resources that only hand digging will occur inside of the 18 inch tolerance zone. 5. Informed contract resources that any hit that results in a release of gas the excavator must call 911 and julie must be notified.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2024-12-05 00:00:00
Iyear
2024
Report Number
20240135
Supplemental Number
40528
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15329
Name
Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co
Operator Street Address
200 E Randolph Street
Operator City Name
Chicago
Operator State Abbreviation
IL
Operator Postal Code
60601
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Latitude
40.266609
Location Longitude
-88.432686
Nrc Rpt Num
1415979
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1416105
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
5164
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
Valve Closure
Downstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Num Pub Evacuated
0
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Il
Onshore Postal Code
61843
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Champaign
Designated Location
Not Applicable
Pipe Fac Name
Manlove Field
Segment Name
Webster 4_12" Gis 39617
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Loss Of Cover
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.)
Installation Year
2024
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Thread-O-Let With Cameron Quarter Turn Valve Hit By Backhoe During Excavation. Material Descriptions Below: Material: T12494448 Description: Plug, Pipe, 1" Nps, Hex Hd, Mpt, Steel Class 3000 Material: T1246505 Description: Valve, Ball, 3,000 Lb, -50 To 220 Deg F Material: T1249674 Description: Nipple, Pipe, Seamless, 1" Nps Sch 160, 3" Material: 8171472 Description: Fitting, Outlet, Threadolet, Nps 36"-3" - 1
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
370
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Did Occur In Mca Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
9037
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
5000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Other
3500
Est Cost Other Details
Overtime For Company Responders
Gas Cost In Mcf
1.75
Prpty
17537
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
1750
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf
1
Mop Psig
2000
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2017-07-10 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Gas Required Odorized Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Length Segment Isolated
2700
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Other Restrictions Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission In Storage Field
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
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
The cause of the event was reported immediately by the team performing excavation. Therefore, no analysis of alarms was required or necessary.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Contractors Tested
2
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Operator's Contractor (Second Party)
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Operator's Contractor (Second Party)
Prior Notification Ind
Yes
One Call System Ind
Yes
State Law Exempt Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Public Row Ind
Yes
Public Subtype
County Road
Joint Trench Ind
No
Cross Bore Ind
No
Depth Of Grade
18� � 36�
Excavator Type
Contractor
Excavator Equipment
Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed
Natural Gas
One Call Notified Ind
No
Locator Type
Facility Owner
Visible Marks
Yes
Service Interruption
No
Root Cause Category
Locating Issue
Root Cause Type
Facility Marked Inaccurately Due To Incorrect Facility Records/maps
Excvtn Dmg Op Contractor Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
J****** S*******
Preparer Title
Compliance Manager - Underground Storage
Preparer Email
J************@w*************.com
Preparer Telephone
2178977138
Local Contact Name
J**** D******
Local Contact Email
J************@p*****************.com
Local Contact Telephone
2178977128
Authorizer Name
A***** H*********
Authorizer Title
Senior Vice President Gas Operations
Authorizer Telephone
4142214759
Authorizer Email
A****************@w*************.com
Narrative
Summary of event on saturday, november 9, 2024, at 1:33 pm local time (central standard time) a contractor performing work for people's gas light & coke (pgl) was doing excavation work adjacent to county road 2700 north at approximate latitude/longitude 40.266609/-88.432686. While performing the excavation work with a backhoe, at the completion of a swipe, the operator heard a pop/hiss and observed gas blowing into the air. The natural gas transmission line being excavated was at approximately 1,750 psig. The contractor personnel contacted pgl employees working in the vicinity. Pgl responded with on shift personnel augmented by off work employees. The area was made safe and the leak was isolated using manual transmission line valves. The affected pipeline was isolated at approximately 3:00 pm and was depressurized to atmospheric pressure at 3:30 pm. At 4:50 pm, pgl estimated the release to exceed 3,000,000 standard cubic feet (scf). Pgl notified the national response center (nrc) at 5:06 pm and the illinois commerce commission (icc) at 5:29 pm. A follow up call was made to the nrc on monday, november 11, 2024 at 2:43 pm, during which pgl reported a calculated release volume of 4.953 mmcf. Causes the direct cause of the release was damage caused by the backhoe shovel contact to surrounding soil and/or installed equipment including the following: a 1" 3,000 psig rated, threaded w-k-m dynaseal quarter turn ball valve installed at the 12 o'clock position on the 12" carbon steel transmission pipeline. On one end (toward atmosphere) of this valve was a 1" hex head plug and on the other end (leading to the 12" pipeline), was a 1"x3" schedule 160 nipple that was screwed into a thread-o-let that was welded to the pipeline. The root cause was as-built drawings were not updated to reflect the above equipment following installation in march 2024. Drawings were not updated because the installation was thought to be temporary in nature to support future purging operations that would be needed for planned construction. Because drawings were not updated, information regarding installation of the equipment was not available to the personnel performing excavation activities. Contributing to the event was the backhoe operator performing excavation within the tolerance zone of 18" of the pipeline. The backhoe operator's operator qualification was removed because of the incident and is pending remediation and requalification. Amount of gas released: based on further calculations using relief valve capacity methodology, pgl has revised the calculated release volume to be 5,163,905 scf. This includes 4,842,969 scf prior to isolation and 320,936 scf following isolation. A 1.25" opening was used during the calculation. This opening provides a conservative calculation related to the 1" threadolet connection, which was forcibly removed by the backhoe and/or adjacent soil being compressed during excavation. Actions taken 1. All work associated with the project was shutdown pending pgl investigation. 2. Direction provided to pgl and contract resources that w-k-m dynasealvalves will not be buried in the future. A plan was developed to address other locations where these style valves have been installed. (update: other locations with valves installed with the same configuration have been removed). 3. Directed pgl and contract resources that anything being installed on pgl facilities is required to be documented in the as-built drawings. 4. Directed contract resources that only hand digging will occur inside of the 18 inch tolerance zone. 5. Informed contract resources that any hit that results in a release of gas the excavator must call 911 and julie must be notified.
| Report Received Date | 2024-12-05 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2024 |
| Report Number | 20240135 |
| Supplemental Number | 40528 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15329 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co |
| Operator Street Address | 200 E Randolph Street |
| Operator City Name | Chicago |
| Operator State Abbreviation | IL |
| Operator Postal Code | 60601 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Latitude | 40.266609 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -88.432686 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1415979 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1416105 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 5164 |
| 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 | Valve Closure |
| Downstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Il |
| Onshore Postal Code | 61843 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Champaign |
| Designated Location | Not Applicable |
| Pipe Fac Name | Manlove Field |
| Segment Name | Webster 4_12" Gis 39617 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Loss Of Cover |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.) |
| Installation Year | 2024 |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Thread-O-Let With Cameron Quarter Turn Valve Hit By Backhoe During Excavation. Material Descriptions Below: Material: T12494448 Description: Plug, Pipe, 1" Nps, Hex Hd, Mpt, Steel Class 3000 Material: T1246505 Description: Valve, Ball, 3,000 Lb, -50 To 220 Deg F Material: T1249674 Description: Nipple, Pipe, Seamless, 1" Nps Sch 160, 3" Material: 8171472 Description: Fitting, Outlet, Threadolet, Nps 36"-3" - 1 |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 370 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Did Occur In Mca Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 9037 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 5000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 3500 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Overtime For Company Responders |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 1.75 |
| Prpty | 17537 |
| 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 | 1750 |
| Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf | 1 |
| Mop Psig | 2000 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2017-07-10 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Gas Required Odorized Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Length Segment Isolated | 2700 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Other Restrictions Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission In Storage Field |
| 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 | 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 | The cause of the event was reported immediately by the team performing excavation. Therefore, no analysis of alarms was required or necessary. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Contractors Tested | 2 |
| Num Contractors Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Operator's Contractor (Second Party) |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Operator's Contractor (Second Party) |
| Prior Notification Ind | Yes |
| One Call System Ind | Yes |
| State Law Exempt Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Public Row Ind | Yes |
| Public Subtype | County Road |
| Joint Trench Ind | No |
| Cross Bore Ind | No |
| Depth Of Grade | 18� � 36� |
| Excavator Type | Contractor |
| Excavator Equipment | Backhoe/trackhoe |
| Work Performed | Natural Gas |
| One Call Notified Ind | No |
| Locator Type | Facility Owner |
| Visible Marks | Yes |
| Service Interruption | No |
| Root Cause Category | Locating Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Facility Marked Inaccurately Due To Incorrect Facility Records/maps |
| Excvtn Dmg Op Contractor Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | J****** S******* |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Manager - Underground Storage |
| Preparer Email | J************@w*************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 2178977138 |
| Local Contact Name | J**** D****** |
| Local Contact Email | J************@p*****************.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 2178977128 |
| Authorizer Name | A***** H********* |
| Authorizer Title | Senior Vice President Gas Operations |
| Authorizer Telephone | 4142214759 |
| Authorizer Email | A****************@w*************.com |
| Narrative | Summary of event on saturday, november 9, 2024, at 1:33 pm local time (central standard time) a contractor performing work for people's gas light & coke (pgl) was doing excavation work adjacent to county road 2700 north at approximate latitude/longitude 40.266609/-88.432686. While performing the excavation work with a backhoe, at the completion of a swipe, the operator heard a pop/hiss and observed gas blowing into the air. The natural gas transmission line being excavated was at approximately 1,750 psig. The contractor personnel contacted pgl employees working in the vicinity. Pgl responded with on shift personnel augmented by off work employees. The area was made safe and the leak was isolated using manual transmission line valves. The affected pipeline was isolated at approximately 3:00 pm and was depressurized to atmospheric pressure at 3:30 pm. At 4:50 pm, pgl estimated the release to exceed 3,000,000 standard cubic feet (scf). Pgl notified the national response center (nrc) at 5:06 pm and the illinois commerce commission (icc) at 5:29 pm. A follow up call was made to the nrc on monday, november 11, 2024 at 2:43 pm, during which pgl reported a calculated release volume of 4.953 mmcf. Causes the direct cause of the release was damage caused by the backhoe shovel contact to surrounding soil and/or installed equipment including the following: a 1" 3,000 psig rated, threaded w-k-m dynaseal quarter turn ball valve installed at the 12 o'clock position on the 12" carbon steel transmission pipeline. On one end (toward atmosphere) of this valve was a 1" hex head plug and on the other end (leading to the 12" pipeline), was a 1"x3" schedule 160 nipple that was screwed into a thread-o-let that was welded to the pipeline. The root cause was as-built drawings were not updated to reflect the above equipment following installation in march 2024. Drawings were not updated because the installation was thought to be temporary in nature to support future purging operations that would be needed for planned construction. Because drawings were not updated, information regarding installation of the equipment was not available to the personnel performing excavation activities. Contributing to the event was the backhoe operator performing excavation within the tolerance zone of 18" of the pipeline. The backhoe operator's operator qualification was removed because of the incident and is pending remediation and requalification. Amount of gas released: based on further calculations using relief valve capacity methodology, pgl has revised the calculated release volume to be 5,163,905 scf. This includes 4,842,969 scf prior to isolation and 320,936 scf following isolation. A 1.25" opening was used during the calculation. This opening provides a conservative calculation related to the 1" threadolet connection, which was forcibly removed by the backhoe and/or adjacent soil being compressed during excavation. Actions taken 1. All work associated with the project was shutdown pending pgl investigation. 2. Direction provided to pgl and contract resources that w-k-m dynasealvalves will not be buried in the future. A plan was developed to address other locations where these style valves have been installed. (update: other locations with valves installed with the same configuration have been removed). 3. Directed pgl and contract resources that anything being installed on pgl facilities is required to be documented in the as-built drawings. 4. Directed contract resources that only hand digging will occur inside of the 18 inch tolerance zone. 5. Informed contract resources that any hit that results in a release of gas the excavator must call 911 and julie must be notified. |
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