DTE GAS COMPANY

Incident Narrative

MAINTENANCE CREW WORKING FOR SKI RESORT STRUCK AND COMPLETELY SEVERED A 4-INCH PLASTIC MAIN WHILE EXCAVATING FOR WATER SYSTEM USING A BACKHOE. DTE GAS EMERGENCY RESPONSE CREW PINCHED THE PLASTIC PIPE TO CONTROL GAS LEAKING AT 45 PSIG WITHIN 2 HRS 4 MIN OF NOTIFICATION, INTERRUPTING SERVICE TO 200 RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS TO THE WEST OF THE DAMAGE. REPAIR WAS MADE BY INSTALLING A 4-FOOT SEGMENT OF PRE-TESTED 4-INCH PLASTIC PIPE, JOINTS MADE USING TWO ELECTROFUSION COUPLINGS. REPAIR COMPLETED AT 15:45. ALL AFFECTED CUSTOMERS WERE SHUT OFF AT EACH SERVICE VALVE BY 17:00. A PURGE PLAN WAS EXECUTED STARTING AT 20:48 TO RE-ACTIVATE THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. THE NORTHWEST SECTION OF THE SYSTEM WAS RESTORED TO NORMAL OPERATING PRESSURE AT 22:00, AND RELIGHTING OF THOSE CUSTOMERS WAS INITIATED. THE SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY RESTORED AT 22:55. RELIGHTING OF CUSTOMERS CONTINUED UNTIL 01:00 ON 8/10/2013 WITH 107 CUSTOMERS RESTORED BY THEN. RESTORATION CONTINUED AT 09:30 ON 8/10/2013 AND COMPLETED AT 15:30 WITH AN ADDITIONAL 59 CUSTOMERS RESTORED, LEAVING 34 CUSTOMERS SHUT OFF SINCE NOBODY WAS AT HOME.