NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS CO
gas_distribution Incident — BERWYN, IL
Incident Information
| Report Date | — |
| Operator | NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS CO |
| Commodity | — |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | BERWYN |
| State | IL |
| County | COOK |
| Coordinates | 41.83223, -87.79326 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | — |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | — |
| Lost Commodity | — |
| Public/Private Damage | — |
| Emergency Response | — |
| Environmental Remediation | — |
| Other Costs | — |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
PART A EXPLANATION: A18. ATTEMPTS TO CALL THE NRC WERE MADE PRIOR TO THE TIME REPORTED IN PART A BUT CALL WAS NOT PICKED UP. NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO THE ICC TO THAT EFFECT. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT: ON TUESDAY MAY 25, 2021, A THIRD PARTY EXCAVATOR WAS PERFORMING SOIL BORINGS (SOIL SAMPLING) AND DAMAGED A DEAD-END 2-INCH PE DISTRIBUTION MAIN THAT WAS OPERATING AT ABOUT 55-PSIG. THE DAMAGE LOCATION WAS NEAR THE DEAD END. ESCAPING NATURAL GAS MIGRATED INTO THE BUILDING AND IGNITED CAUSING AN EXPLOSION. THE DRILL CAUSING THE DAMAGE TO THE PIPELINE REMAINED IN THE PIPELINE UNTIL GAS WAS OFF. COMPANY PERSONNEL WERE NOT ON-SITE AT THE TIME OF THE DAMAGE OR THE GAS IGNITION. MARKINGS PLACED ON MAY 24, 2021 WERE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE ACTUAL LOCATION OF THE GAS MAIN. THE DAMAGED MAIN WAS ISOLATED BY MEANS OF SQUEEZE OFF AND REPAIRS WERE MADE BY CUTTING OUT AND REPLACING THE DAMAGED SECTION OF MAIN.
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.