DELMARVA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY

gas_distribution Incident — WILMINGTON, DE

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorDELMARVA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityWILMINGTON
StateDE
CountyNEW CASTLE COUNTY
Coordinates39.75684, -75.51725

Cause

CauseNATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

THIS IS THE FINAL REPORT. IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS FRIDAY, OCT. 1, AS REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM NICOLE PASSED THROUGH DELAWARE WITH HEAVY RAINS AND HIGH WINDS, COLONY BOULEVARD (A PRIVATE ROAD) OVER THE SHELLPOT CREEK NEAR WILMINGTON, DE BEGAN TO CRUMBLE, WASHING AWAY THE ROAD BASE DOWN TO TWO STEEL CULVERTS, AND EXPOSING A SIX-INCH GAS MAIN BURIED IN THE ROADWAY PRIOR TO THE WASH-OUT. IT IS BELIEVED THE EARTH MOVEMENT DISPLACED THE NOW UNSUPPORTED SIX INCH STEEL GAS MAIN, WHICH THEN DAMAGED A CATHODIC PROTECTION INSULATING JOINT, CAUSING AN UNINTENDED ESCAPE OF NATURAL GAS FROM THE INSULATING JOINT.

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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