COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA INC

Incident Narrative

AT 21:41 ON FEBRUARY 1, 2014 CGV RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM STAFFORD COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN EXPLOSION AT 15 HOPKINS BRANCH WAY IN FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA. CGV PERSONNEL WENT TO THE SITE, EXPOSED THE PLASTIC GAS SERVICE SERVING 15 HOPKINS BRANCH, SQUEEZED OFF, AND CUT AND CAPPED THE SERVICE LINE. WHEN CGV PERFORMED PRESSURE TEST ON THE FACILITY, IT WOULD NOT HOLD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN 1/8 INCH HOLE IN THE PLASTIC GAS SERVICE LINE WHERE IT CROSSED THE PLASTIC WATER SERVICE LINE. PENDING THE OUTCOME OF LAB ANALYSIS, THE CONCLUSION OF CGV'S INVESTIGATION IS THAT DURING INSTALLATION OF THE GAS SERVICE ON JANUARY 2, 2014, THE UNLOCATED (UNLOCATABLE) PRIVATE WATER SERVICE LINE WAS STRUCK WHILE DIRECTIONAL DRILLING CAUSING DAMAGE. THE WATER METER WAS SET AT THE SITE ON JANUARY 23, 2014 AND SOMETIME AFTER, THE WATER WAS TURNED ON TO THE PROPERTY. WHEN THE WATER SERVICE WAS PRESSURIZED, THE WATER PRESSURE FROM THE HOLE IN THE WATER SERVICE LINE CAUSED A HOLE TO EVENTUALLY FORM IN THE PLASTIC GAS SERVICE LINE. THE GAS MIGRATED INTO THE UNOCCUPIED NEW CONSTRUCTION RESIDENCE AND FOUND AN IGNITION SOURCE.