ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION - COLORADO/KANSAS
gas_distribution Incident — OVERLAND PARK, KS — September 20, 2013
Incident Information
| Incident Date | September 20, 2013 |
| Operator | ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION - COLORADO/KANSAS |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | OVERLAND PARK |
| State | KS |
| County | JOHNSON |
| Coordinates | 38.85453, -94.70529 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY OPERATOR (FIRST PARTY) |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $60,000 |
| Emergency Response | $2,160 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"ATMOS ENERGY EMPLOYEES WERE ATTEMPTING TO DIG A REMOTE BELL HOLE TO ISOLATE A GRADE ONE LEAK UNDER PAVEMENT AT 151ST AND SWITZER IN OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS. THE BACKHOE OPERATOR WAS DIGGING ON TOP OF THE 4' POLY LINE FROM EAST TO WEST. THE LINE AT THIS LOCATION CHANGED ELEVATION FROM HIGHER IN THE WEST TO LOWER IN THE EAST. THE BACKHOE OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO LIFT A ROCK OUT OF THE BELL HOLE THAT HAD BEEN LEFT OVER OUR LINE FROM PREVIOUS CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN. THE ROCK POTENTIALLY STRUCK AT AN ELECTRO-FUSE COUPLING OR PUNCTURED THE PIPE ITSELF AND THE IGNITION OCCURRED FROM UNKNOWN SOURCE. ALSO STREET LIGHTS IN THE AREA AND 2,500 ELECTRIC WERE WITHOUT POWER."
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.