UGI UTILITIES, INC
gas_distribution Incident — SWIFTWATER, PA
Incident Information
| Report Date | — |
| Operator | UGI UTILITIES, INC |
| Commodity | — |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | SWIFTWATER |
| State | PA |
| County | MONROE |
| Coordinates | 41.09537, -75.32647 |
Cause
| Cause | PIPE, WELD, OR JOINT FAILURE |
| Subcause | — |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 2 |
Costs
| Property Damage | — |
| Lost Commodity | — |
| Public/Private Damage | — |
| Emergency Response | — |
| Environmental Remediation | — |
| Other Costs | — |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
AT APPROXIMATELY 1:44 AM DECEMBER 25, 2020, UGI EMPLOYEES RESPONDED TO A CALL FROM MONROE COUNTY 911 REPORTING AN INCIDENT INVOLVING THE RELEASE OF NATURAL GAS. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE 12-INCH HDPE, 100 PSIG MAOP DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE HAD SEPARATED AT THE BUTT FUSION INTERFACE FROM AN UNKNOWN CAUSE. THERE WAS ONE CONFIRMED FATALITY AND TWO INJURIES REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION FROM AN OVERTURNED VEHICLE. IN RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT, THE PIPELINE WAS REPAIRED AND PLACED BACK IN OPERATION. THE PIPELINE OPERATING PRESSURE HAS BEEN LOWERED FROM 94 PSIG TO 60 PSIG AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. UGI IS FILING THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AND FINAL REPORT AFTER A THIRD-PARTY LAB COMPLETED TESTING ON THE FAILED BUTT FUSION JOINT AND A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS. THE ROOT CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: 1) INADEQUATE INTERFACIAL PRESSURE APPLIED DURING THE JOINING PHASE OF THE FUSION PROCESS AND/OR EXCESSIVE DWELL TIME BETWEEN HEAT SOAK AND JOINING PHASES; AND 2) THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW APPROPRIATE INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION PROCEDURES.
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.