TEXAS GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC

Incident Narrative

AT APPROXIMATELY 6:15 PM ON SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 A LANDOWNER NOTIFIED A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO, IN TURN, NOTIFIED TEXAS GAS' CONTROL ROOM OF A POTENTIAL NATURAL GAS LEAK ON THE SHARON CARTHAGE LINE, (SHC 20-1) NEAR BLOCK VALVE #5. THE CADDO PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE LANDOWNER REPORTED BUBBLING FROM THE PIPELINE AND EXPRESSED CONCERN. THE CONTROL ROOM CONTACTED OPERATIONS PERSONNEL WHO TOOK IMMEDIATE STEPS TO ISOLATE THE LEAK AND CLOSE BOTH BLOCK VALVE #5 AND BLOCK VALVE #6. WITH THE LEAK ISOLATED, PLANS WERE MADE TO INVESTIGATE ON MONDAY, MARCH 23. UPON EXCAVATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A VERY SMALL PINHOLE LEAK ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF A GIRTH WELD. A LEAK CLAMP WAS INSTALLED AND THE LEAK WAS STOPPED. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24, A DRESSER STYLE 220 SLEEVE WAS INSTALLED OVER THE LEAK. THIS REPORT IS REQUIRED BASED ON THE COST OF REPAIR EXCEEDING $50,000. THE RESPONSE TO QUESTION A7 IS SHOWN AS 1 MCF BUT THE ACTUAL ANSWER IS UNKNOWN; TEXAS GAS DOES NOT KNOW HOW LONG THIS LEAK OCCURRED NOR DO WE KNOW THE ORIFICE SIZE SINCE THE REPAIR HAS BEEN COMPLETED. 4-9-2020 UPDATE PER PHMSA'S REQUEST. A LACK OF FUSION DURING CONSTRUCTION RESULTED IN A PIN HOLE DEFECT LEAK IN THE GIRTH WELD. PHMSA ALSO ASKED FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THE OPID RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCIDENT IS 19270; THAT IS CORRECT.