MOUNTAINEER GAS CO
gas_distribution Incident — DUNBAR, WV — August 7, 2023
Incident Information
| Incident Date | August 7, 2023 |
| Operator | MOUNTAINEER GAS CO |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | DUNBAR |
| State | WV |
| County | KANAWHA |
| Coordinates | 38.36469, -81.74176 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY THIRD PARTY |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $3,000 |
| Emergency Response | $14,000 |
| Other Costs | $10,000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"3J UNDERGROUND LLC WORKING FOR B N D SERVICES LLC WORKING FOR FIBER MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC/SECURENET FIBER INTERNET TO INSTALL FIBER CONDUIT WITH A DIRECTIONAL BORE MACHINE. 3J FAILED TO HAND-DIG OR SPOT THE GAS FACILITIES WHILE BORING. ON THE FIRST OF TWO TRIES, THE BORING HEAD PUNCHED THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE 4 STEEL MAIN AND GAS MIGRATED INTO A NEARBY DAMAGED SEWER LINE. 3J THEN BORED A SECOND HOLE ABOVE THE MGC PIPE AND INSTALLED THE PLASTIC CONDUIT, CALLED MGC'S LOCATOR DIRECTLY TO REPORT AN ODOR OF GAS, AND LEFT THE SCENE BEFORE MGC LOCATOR ARRIVED ON SCENE AND NOTIFIED MGC DISPATCH. WHILE MGC PERSONNEL WERE INVESTIGATING THE ODOR OF GAS, THE HOUSE AT 1321 VIRGINIA AVE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. ADDITIONAL MGC PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT WERE CALLED IN TO FIND AND REPAIR THE DAMAGED PIPE. DAMAGE TO THE PIPE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF MULTIPLE POINTS OF CONTACT."
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.