RELIANT ENERGY ARKLA, DIV OF RELIANT ENERGY RESOURC

Incident Narrative

MAIN HAD BEEN LOCATED BY COMPANY EMPLOYEE. EMPLOYEE STATED THAT TONE FROM LOCATOR WAS GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE LOCATE. (MAIN HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH 2"" PLASTIC IN MARCH OF 1979). THIRD PARTY INSTALLING FIBER OPTIC CABLE CUT 2"" PLASTIC MAIN. IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN LOCATED INACCURATELY DUE TO AN INCORRECT MANUAL MAP POSTING OF THE 2"" PLASTIC OFFSET ON A PAPER MAP (HAS SINCE BEEN CONVERTED TO AN ELECTRONIC MAP). BELL HOLES WERE DUG TO INSTALL A BYPASS AROUND THE DAMAGE. EMPLOYEES INSTALLED TAPS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DAMAGE. AS EMPLOYEE BEGAN TO TAP OUT THE TAPPING TEE IN THE NORTH BELL HOLE, NATURAL GAS IGNITED AT APPROXIMATELY 17:15 HOURS ON APRIL 9, 2012. THE ACTUAL SOURCE OF IGNITION IS UNDETERMINED. THE BURNING NATURAL GAS IGNITED THE THIRD PARTIES TRENCHER AND SCORCHED A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT LOCATED AT THE FARM IMPLEMENT DEALERSHIP. EMT RESPONDED AND TRANSPORTED ONE (1) COMPANY EMPLOYEE TO HOSPITAL FOR BURN TREATMENT. THE REMAINING EMPLOYEES WERE NOT INJURED AND PLUGGED OFF THE 3"" STEEL NATURAL GAS LINE AT APPROXIMATELY 18:55 HOURS. ALL FOUR (4) EMPLOYEES WERE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTED THE SAME EVENING (1 EMPLOYEE AT 22:00 HOURS AND 3 EMPLOYEES AT 23:30 HOURS). ALL EMPLOYEES RECEIVED NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE LINE WAS REPAIRED AND ALL AFFECTED CUSTOMER WERE RESTORED.