CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP., DBA CENTERPOINT ENERGY MINNESOTA GAS

gas_distribution Incident — MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorCENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP., DBA CENTERPOINT ENERGY MINNESOTA GAS
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityMINNEAPOLIS
StateMN
CountyHENNEPIN
Coordinates44.96277, -93.22984

Cause

CauseINCORRECT OPERATION
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries1

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

THE CONTRACTOR, MICHELS PIPELINE, PURGED A 16"" GAS MAIN THAT WAS BEING ABANDONED. THERE WERE TWO OPEN ENDS OF AN 8"" MAIN THAT TEED OFF THE 16"". THE STUB ATTACHED TO THE 16"" MAIN WAS SEALED WITH FOAM AND COVERED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. A WELDER FROM MICHELS WAS IN THE PROCESS OF WELDING AN END CAP ON THE OTHER END OF THE 8"" MAIN. AFTER MAKING HIS INITIAL TACK, THE END OF THE PIPE THAT WAS TAPED AND SEALED WITH FOAM COMBUSTED OUTWARD BLOWING THE FOAM OUT AND BURNING THE MICHELS WELDER.

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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