CONSUMERS ENERGY CO
gas_distribution Incident — OXFORD, MI — July 6, 2011
Incident Information
| Incident Date | July 6, 2011 |
| Operator | CONSUMERS ENERGY CO |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | OXFORD |
| State | MI |
| County | OAKLAND |
| Coordinates | 42.82028, -83.26156 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY THIRD PARTY |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $4,375 |
| Emergency Response | $0 |
| Other Costs | $100,000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"CONTRACTOR ASI PAVING WHILE MILLING A PARKING LOT CUT THROUGH A 1-1/8"" PLASTIC MEDIUM PRESSURE GAS SERVICE TO 135 CRAWFORD CAUSING A FIRE AND IGNITING CONTRACTOR'S EQUIPMENT. THE APARTMENT COMPLEX WAS EVACUATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND PUT IT OUT AT 14:41. GAS FLOW WAS SQUEEZED OFF AT 15:30. ONCE THE DAMAGED EQUIPMENT WAS REMOVED, THE DAMAGED SERVICE WAS REPAIRED AND THE GAS WAS BACK ON AT 00:30. ASI PAVING HAD REQUESTED STAKING, WHICH WAS THEN ACCURATELY PROVIDED. HOWEVER, THE 1-1/8"" PLASTIC THAT WAS DAMAGED WAS ONLY 2 INCHES BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE 6-INCH THICK PAVEMENT BEING REMOVED. THIS MINIMAL DEPTH DID NOT ALLOW ASI TO HAND EXPOSE THE SERVICE TO DETERMINE DEPTH PRIOR TO REMOVING PAVEMENT (THE DAMAGE OCCURRED DURING THE PAVEMENT REMOVAL OPERATION). IT IS SURMISED THAT THE 1-1/8"" PLASTIC SERVICE WAS BURIED AT PROPER DEPTH WHEN INSTALLED IN 1976, BUT SUBSEQUENT PARKING AREA GRADING SINCE THE INSTALLATION LIKELY CAUSED THE SERVICE TO BE AT A SHALLOW DEPTH."
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.