PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO

gas_transmission Incident — — December 6, 2017

Incident Information

Incident DateDecember 6, 2017
OperatorPACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO
CommodityNATURAL GAS
Pipeline Typegas_transmission

Location

State
Coordinates37.55688, -121.90602

Cause

CauseEXCAVATION DAMAGE
SubcauseEXCAVATION DAMAGE BY THIRD PARTY

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage$314,000
Emergency Response$50,000
Other Costs$0

Location Map

Incident Narrative

"ON 12/06/17 AT APPROXIMATELY 1223 HOURS, PG&E WAS NOTIFIED OF A THIRD PARTY DIG IN AT 4255 SHERIDAN ROAD, SUNOL. THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS EXCAVATING A FIRE ROAD USING A D6 BULLDOZER AND STRUCK L-131 (MILE POINT 45.3), A 24' STEEL TRANSMISSION LINE, CAUSING AN UNINTENTIONAL RELEASE OF GAS. THE PROPERTY OWNER DID NOT HAVE A VALID USA TICKET. PG&E GSR ARRIVED ON SITE AT 1240 HOURS AND THE M&C SUPERVISOR ARRIVED ON-SITE AT 1250 HOURS. THE FLOW OF GAS WAS STOPPED AT APPROXIMATELY 1305 HOURS BY REMOTELY CLOSING ISOLATION VALVES LOCATED AT MP 38.72 AND 46.32. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REMAINED ON SITE UNTIL THE RELEASE OF GAS STOPPED. APPROXIMATELY 11 SERVICES LOST GAS DUE TO THE DIG IN AND 80 CUSTOMERS WERE SHUT IN PROACTIVELY. CNG WAS BROUGHT IN TO SUPPLY AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. AS OF 12/9/17 ALL CUSTOMERS EXCEPT VACANT HOMES AND BUSINESS WERE RESTORED. ON 12/8/17, PG&E REMOVED THE DAMAGED PORTION OF PIPELINE . THESE SECTIONS OF PIPELINE WERE SENT TO AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING FIRM (EXPONENT) FOR METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, NO FATALITIES, NO MEDIA AND NO IGNITION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT . THIS INCIDENT IS BEING REPORTED TO THE DOT (1199008) AND THE CPUC DUE TO DAMAGES ESTIMATED TO EXCEED $50,000. AN UPDATE WAS PROVIDED TO THE DOT (1199102) ON 12/7/17."

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.

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