NORTHERN NATURAL GAS CO

Incident Narrative

ON NOVEMBER 15, 2019, AT 1326 HOURS, THE SIOUX COUNTY, IOWA, SHERRIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTED KNOWN PIPELINE DAMAGE ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOYDEN, IOWA (POP ~700). THE EXACT LOCATION IS ON THE BOYDEN 2-INCH BRANCH LINE (IAB66701) AT MILEPOST 5.24. IT IS ASSUMED A FARMER WAS LAYING DRAINAGE TILE IN HIS FIELD WHEN HE PUNCTURED AND COMPLETELY SEVERED THE PIPELINE. PAULLINA SENIOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS ISOLATED THE LEAK AT 1430 HOURS. WHEN ARRIVING AT THE LEAK LOCATION AT 1448 HOURS, NO EQUIPMENT OR PERSONNEL WERE PRESENT. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOUND THE EXCAVATOR LATER THAT DAY AFTER INTERVIEWING THE LANDOWNER AND NEIGHBORS. NO ONE CALL FOR THE WORK HAD BEEN MADE. THE BOYDEN, IOWA, #1 TOWN BORDER STATION (737111) LOST SERVICE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LINE HIT. TWO FARM TAPS ALSO LOST SERVICE. REPAIR SERVICES WERE MOBILIZED AT 1500 HOURS AND ARRIVED ON SITE AT 1600 HOURS. THE PIPELINE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING A CYLINDER OF PIPE USING PRE-TESTED PIPE 43-FEET LONG. SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF BOYDEN WAS RESTORED ON NOVEMBER 16, 2019, AT 0056 HOURS. THE INITIAL NRC REPORT NUMBER IS 1264042 AND THE 48-HOUR FOLLOW-UP IS 1264147.