DELMARVA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
gas_distribution Incident — WILMINGTON, DE — October 1, 2010
Incident Information
| Incident Date | October 1, 2010 |
| Operator | DELMARVA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | WILMINGTON |
| State | DE |
| County | NEW CASTLE COUNTY |
| Coordinates | 39.75684, -75.51725 |
Cause
| Cause | NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE |
| Subcause | HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $65,000 |
| Emergency Response | $450 |
| Other Costs | $30,000 |
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.