DTE GAS COMPANY
gas_distribution Incident — BOYNE FALLS, MI — August 9, 2013
Incident Information
| Incident Date | August 9, 2013 |
| Operator | DTE GAS COMPANY |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | BOYNE FALLS |
| State | MI |
| County | CHARLEVOIX |
| Coordinates | 45.16398, -84.93301 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY THIRD PARTY |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $77,623 |
| Emergency Response | $1,125 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
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."
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.