PECO ENERGY CO

gas_distribution Incident — ROSEMONT, PA

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorPECO ENERGY CO
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityROSEMONT
StatePA
Coordinates40.03211, -75.32882

Cause

CauseEXCAVATION DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage
Lost Commodity
Public/Private Damage
Emergency Response
Environmental Remediation
Other Costs

Location Map

Incident Narrative

ON 08/07/13, A DRILL RIG OPERATOR WAS AUGURING TO INSTALL A LIGHTING TOWER FOUNDATION FOR A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SPORTS FIELD AT ROSEMONT COLLEGE WHEN THE CONTRACTOR STRUCK THE GAS MAIN. THE SPORTS FIELD CONSTRUCTION HAD ADDED FILL OVER THE EXISTING GAS MAIN, SO THAT A NEW COVER OVER THE MAIN WAS APPROXIMATELY 14 FEET. DURING CONSTRUCTION, PIPELINE MARKERS WERE RAISED TO MARK THE MAIN. THE AUGER STRUCK THE 4-INCH PE PLASTIC MAIN AND THE ESCAPING GAS IGNITED AT THE DRILL RIG TRUCK. THE CONTRACTOR DID NOT MAKE THE REQUIRED ONE-CALL NOTIFICATIONS PRIOR TO STARTING THE WORK. HOWEVER, PREVIOUS ONE-CALLS WERE MADE BY OTHER CONTRACTORS WORKING IN THE AREA RESULTED IN A MARK OUT OF THE GAS MAIN AND THE INSTALLATION OF PIPELINE MARKERS. THE MARKERS WERE VISIBLE AND THEY ACCURATELY MARKED THE LOCATION OF THE GAS MAIN. THE MARKERS' ACCURACY WAS VERIFIED THROUGH SUBSEQUENT EXCAVATIONS. DUE TO THE DEPTH OF THE FACILITIES AT THE HIT LOCATION, THIS SECTION WAS NOT EXCAVATED. THE PIPE WAS EXCAVATED AT THE STREET WHERE THIS SECTION IS TEED OFF AND WAS CUT AND CAPPED. A NEW MAIN WAS RUN TO RECONNECT THE COLLEGE FACILITIES AND WAS GASSED UP ON 8/22/13.

About This Pipeline Incident

Pipeline incident data is reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). All significant incidents involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage over $50,000 must be reported.

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