Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2025-09-12 — TX
Operator
Columbia Gas Transmission, Llc
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$1,390,000
Incident datetime
2025-09-12 15:25
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On september 12, 2025, at 13:37 columbia gas transmission, llc (columbia) monitoring center received a call from the maryland emergency service regarding a potential natural gas release from a columbia facility near terra alta, wv. Columbia operations personnel responded and were on site at 15:25 and confirmed that the unintended gas release to be from line 8234. The involved section of line 8234 in this event is submerged within the north branch of the potomac river on the md-wv line, and the pipeline resides below the bottom of the riverbed. Water levels were low, and current had significantly slowed down, resulting in kayakers seeing an area of water with increased bubbling. Garrett county 911 received a call from kayakers about the leak, reporting an odor of gas. Pipeline technician arrived on site at 15:25 and found a non-hazardous leak. Neither the technician nor firefighters who were at the location saw any dead fish or notable effects on wildlife. The technician reported no sheen on the water. National response center (nrc) was notified of the leak around 16:07 on the day of discovery, and the 48-hour nrc report number was completed on september 14. The nrc 1-hr. Report and 48-hr. Report numbers were 1442591 and 1442688, respectively. Site monitoring has been increased to once a week to ensure the non-hazardous leak conditions do not worsen prior to being permanently replaced. Note: all recorded times are in eastern daylight time (edt).
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2025-10-09 00:00:00
Iyear
2025
Report Number
20250110
Supplemental Number
41444
Report Type
Original
Operator Id
2616
Name
Columbia Gas Transmission, Llc
Operator Street Address
700 Louisiana St. Suite 700
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2025-09-12 13:42:00
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Latitude
39.284521
Location Longitude
-79.346624
Nrc Rpt Num
1442591
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2025-09-12 16:07:00
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1442688
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1723
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
No
Shutdown Explain
Due To Customer Needs
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
The Gas Has Not Been Shut Off Due To Customer Needs And Non Hazardous Leak
Downstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
The Gas Has Not Been Shut Off Due To Customer Needs And Non Hazardous Leak
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2025-09-12 15:25:00
On Site Datetime
2025-09-12 15:25:00
Confirmed Discovery Datetime
2025-09-12 15:25:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Wv
Onshore Postal Code
21550
Onshore City Name
Gormania
Onshore County Name
Grant
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
50732
Pipe Fac Name
8234
Segment Name
Floc 027905-027906
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Other
Incident Area Details
Within The Potomac River
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
Yes
Water Crossing Ind
Yes
Water Type
Uncased
Water Name
Potomac River
Water Depth
2
Water Subtype
Below Water, Pipe Buried Below Bottom (Not In Bored/drilled Crossing)
Crossing 100 Feet
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter
8.625
Puddle Weld Ind
No
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.277
Pipe Smys
24000
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Seam Type
Seamless
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Pipe Coating Type
None
Coating Applied Ind
No
Installation Year
1951
Manufactured Year
1951
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Pinhole
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
63
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Did Occur In Mca Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
3515
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
1390000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Other
0
Gas Cost In Mcf
2.04
Prpty
1393515
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
89
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf
7
Mop Psig
100
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(C)
Maop Established Date
1969-12-04 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
1864
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Diameter Change Ind
Yes
Unsuitable Mainline Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Low Op Pressure Ind
Yes
Low Flow Ind
Yes
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Emergency Responder
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
Corrosion Failure
Cause Details
External Corrosion
Internal External
External Corrosion
Visual Exam Results
Other
Visual Exam Details
Pipe Is Submerged Within Riverbed And Cannot Be Visually Examined
Galvanic Corrosion Ind
Yes
Other Basis Ind
Yes
Corrosion Basis Details
Pipe Is Submerged Within Riverbed And Cannot Be Visually Examined
Underground Location
Yes
Under Cathodic Protection Ind
Yes
Cathodic Pro Start Year
2002
Shielding Evident
No
Cathodic Survey Type
Yes
Cp Annual Survey Ind
Yes
Cp Annual Survey Year
2025
Prior Damage
N/a Bare/ineffectively Coated Pipe
Collected Data Ind
No
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
No
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
T***** H*******
Preparer Title
Dot Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
T**************@t*******.com
Preparer Telephone
6815520967
Preparer Fax
6815520967
Authorizer Name
C*** B*****
Authorizer Title
Manager Dot Field Compliance East
Authorizer Telephone
3045412170
Authorizer Email
C**********@t*******.com
Narrative
On september 12, 2025, at 13:37 columbia gas transmission, llc (columbia) monitoring center received a call from the maryland emergency service regarding a potential natural gas release from a columbia facility near terra alta, wv. Columbia operations personnel responded and were on site at 15:25 and confirmed that the unintended gas release to be from line 8234. The involved section of line 8234 in this event is submerged within the north branch of the potomac river on the md-wv line, and the pipeline resides below the bottom of the riverbed. Water levels were low, and current had significantly slowed down, resulting in kayakers seeing an area of water with increased bubbling. Garrett county 911 received a call from kayakers about the leak, reporting an odor of gas. Pipeline technician arrived on site at 15:25 and found a non-hazardous leak. Neither the technician nor firefighters who were at the location saw any dead fish or notable effects on wildlife. The technician reported no sheen on the water. National response center (nrc) was notified of the leak around 16:07 on the day of discovery, and the 48-hour nrc report number was completed on september 14. The nrc 1-hr. Report and 48-hr. Report numbers were 1442591 and 1442688, respectively. Site monitoring has been increased to once a week to ensure the non-hazardous leak conditions do not worsen prior to being permanently replaced. Note: all recorded times are in eastern daylight time (edt).
| Report Received Date | 2025-10-09 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2025 |
| Report Number | 20250110 |
| Supplemental Number | 41444 |
| Report Type | Original |
| Operator Id | 2616 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Columbia Gas Transmission, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 700 Louisiana St. Suite 700 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2025-09-12 13:42:00 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Latitude | 39.284521 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -79.346624 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1442591 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2025-09-12 16:07:00 |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1442688 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 1723 |
| 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 | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Due To Customer Needs |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | The Gas Has Not Been Shut Off Due To Customer Needs And Non Hazardous Leak |
| Downstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | The Gas Has Not Been Shut Off Due To Customer Needs And Non Hazardous Leak |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2025-09-12 15:25:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2025-09-12 15:25:00 |
| Confirmed Discovery Datetime | 2025-09-12 15:25:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Wv |
| Onshore Postal Code | 21550 |
| Onshore City Name | Gormania |
| Onshore County Name | Grant |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 50732 |
| Pipe Fac Name | 8234 |
| Segment Name | Floc 027905-027906 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Other |
| Incident Area Details | Within The Potomac River |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | Yes |
| Water Crossing Ind | Yes |
| Water Type | Uncased |
| Water Name | Potomac River |
| Water Depth | 2 |
| Water Subtype | Below Water, Pipe Buried Below Bottom (Not In Bored/drilled Crossing) |
| Crossing 100 Feet | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Body |
| Pipe Diameter | 8.625 |
| Puddle Weld Ind | No |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.277 |
| Pipe Smys | 24000 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Seam Type | Seamless |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Pipe Coating Type | None |
| Coating Applied Ind | No |
| Installation Year | 1951 |
| Manufactured Year | 1951 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Pinhole |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 63 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Did Occur In Mca Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 3515 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 1390000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 2.04 |
| Prpty | 1393515 |
| 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 | 89 |
| Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf | 7 |
| Mop Psig | 100 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(C) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1969-12-04 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 | 1864 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Diameter Change Ind | Yes |
| Unsuitable Mainline Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Low Op Pressure Ind | Yes |
| Low Flow Ind | Yes |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| 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 | Corrosion Failure |
| Cause Details | External Corrosion |
| Internal External | External Corrosion |
| Visual Exam Results | Other |
| Visual Exam Details | Pipe Is Submerged Within Riverbed And Cannot Be Visually Examined |
| Galvanic Corrosion Ind | Yes |
| Other Basis Ind | Yes |
| Corrosion Basis Details | Pipe Is Submerged Within Riverbed And Cannot Be Visually Examined |
| Underground Location | Yes |
| Under Cathodic Protection Ind | Yes |
| Cathodic Pro Start Year | 2002 |
| Shielding Evident | No |
| Cathodic Survey Type | Yes |
| Cp Annual Survey Ind | Yes |
| Cp Annual Survey Year | 2025 |
| Prior Damage | N/a Bare/ineffectively Coated Pipe |
| Collected Data Ind | No |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | No |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | No |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | T***** H******* |
| Preparer Title | Dot Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | T**************@t*******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 6815520967 |
| Preparer Fax | 6815520967 |
| Authorizer Name | C*** B***** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Dot Field Compliance East |
| Authorizer Telephone | 3045412170 |
| Authorizer Email | C**********@t*******.com |
| Narrative | On september 12, 2025, at 13:37 columbia gas transmission, llc (columbia) monitoring center received a call from the maryland emergency service regarding a potential natural gas release from a columbia facility near terra alta, wv. Columbia operations personnel responded and were on site at 15:25 and confirmed that the unintended gas release to be from line 8234. The involved section of line 8234 in this event is submerged within the north branch of the potomac river on the md-wv line, and the pipeline resides below the bottom of the riverbed. Water levels were low, and current had significantly slowed down, resulting in kayakers seeing an area of water with increased bubbling. Garrett county 911 received a call from kayakers about the leak, reporting an odor of gas. Pipeline technician arrived on site at 15:25 and found a non-hazardous leak. Neither the technician nor firefighters who were at the location saw any dead fish or notable effects on wildlife. The technician reported no sheen on the water. National response center (nrc) was notified of the leak around 16:07 on the day of discovery, and the 48-hour nrc report number was completed on september 14. The nrc 1-hr. Report and 48-hr. Report numbers were 1442591 and 1442688, respectively. Site monitoring has been increased to once a week to ensure the non-hazardous leak conditions do not worsen prior to being permanently replaced. Note: all recorded times are in eastern daylight time (edt). |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA