KANSAS GAS SERVICE

Incident Narrative

A CONTRACTOR PERFORMING ROAD GRADING BEGAN EARTH MOVING ACTIVITIES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF K-18. THE OPERATORS PIPELINE HAD BEEN LOCATED. THE GRADER (EARTH MOVER) CAUGHT HOLD OF AN 8"" BARE STEEL MAIN THAT WAS 16"" DEEP AND PULLED A 40' SECTION OF COUPLED MAIN OUT OF THE GROUND. NO FIRE OR EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED WITH THE RESULTANT RELEASE OF GAS. THE OPERATOR RESPONDED SHORTLY AFTER THE CONTRACTOR NOTIFIED THEM. THE OPERATOR'S GAS CONTROL FACILITY ALSO NOTICED THE DROP IN PRESSURE, DUE TO ALARM NOTIFICATION FROM THE SCADA SYSTEM, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THE OPERATING AREA EFFECTED BY THE RELEASE. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO RECONNECT THE LINE AND THE FOUR CUSTOMERS THAT LOST SERVICE HAD SERVICE RESTORED IN FOUR HOURS. UPON DISCOVERY (TWO DAYS LATER) THAT THE GAS LOSS HAD EXCEEDED THE 3000 MCF THRESHOLD; THE TELEPHONIC NOTICE WAS MADE TO THE NRC. THE INITIAL GAS LOST WAS ESTIMATED AT 2000 MCF. THE ACTUAL GAS LOSS WHEN CALCULATED TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE GAS LOSS WAS FED FROM EACH END OF THE PIPE SECTION THAT WAS PULLED APART MORE THAN DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF GAS THAT WAS RELEASED.