NEW MEXICO GAS COMPANY
gas_distribution Incident — BLOOMFIELD, NM — August 31, 2011
Incident Information
| Incident Date | August 31, 2011 |
| Operator | NEW MEXICO GAS COMPANY |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | BLOOMFIELD |
| State | NM |
| County | SAN JUAN |
| Coordinates | 36.71125, -107.99254 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY THIRD PARTY |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $8,350 |
| Emergency Response | $15,890 |
| Other Costs | $145,000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"LARGE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR WORKING ON SANITARY AND STORM SEWER PROJECT WAS EXCAVATING WITH A TRACKHOE NEAR THE COMPANY'S PIPELINE. THE COMPANY LOCATED AND MARKED THE LOCATION OF ITS PIPELINE PRIOR TO EXCAVATION. THE CONTRACTOR DID NOT EXPOSE THE PIPELINE AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. THE CONTRACTOR WAS EXCAVATING CLOSE TO THE PIPELINE AND HIT AND PUNCTURED THE PIPELINE. ESCAPING GAS IGNITED WHICH BURNED THE TRACKHOE AND SEVERAL PIECES OF SMALL EQUIPMENT AROUND THE EXCAVATION AREA. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS. ONLY 1 CUSTOMER'S (GOVERNMENT BUILDING) SERVICE WAS INTERRUPTED DUE TO THE INCIDENT. THE CUSTOMER'S GAS USE WAS FOR A WATER HEATER. THE PIPELINE WAS PINCHED UPSTREAM OF THE CUSTOMER'S SERVICE LINE CAUSING THE INTERRUPTION. THE CUSTOMER'S SERVICE WAS RESTORED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2011."
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.