NORTHWEST PIPELINE CORP (WGP)
gas_transmission Incident — — May 24, 2011
Incident Information
| Incident Date | May 24, 2011 |
| Operator | NORTHWEST PIPELINE CORP (WGP) |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_transmission |
Location
| State | |
| Coordinates | 42.62060, -111.85760 |
Cause
| Cause | MATERIAL FAILURE OF PIPE OR WELD |
| Subcause | DESIGN-, CONSTRUCTION-, INSTALLATION-, OR FABRICATION-RELATED |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $68,500 |
| Emergency Response | $0 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
DURING THE ANNUAL POCATELLO AIR PATROL OF THE PIPELINE, A LOCATION WITH DEAD VEGETATION WAS IDENTIFIED AT MILE POST 554.6. A GROUND PATROL WAS SENT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THE DEAD VEGETATION AND USED A FLAME PACK TO IDENTIFY LEAKING GAS. BY PROBING AND SNIFFING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEAK WAS ON THE 24"" 1401 LOOP LINE. THE PIPELINE WAS IMMEDIATELY BLOWN DOWN TO 43 PSIG FROM MLV 8L-2. EXCAVATION MACHINERY WAS BROUGHT ON SITE AND BEGAN EXCAVATION. THE PIPE WAS FOUND SITTING ON A ROCK AND GAS WAS ESCAPING FROM THAT LOCATION. THE BLOW DOWN CONTINUED TO A SLIGHT POSITIVE PRESSURE. A TEMPORY PATCH WAS PUT OVER THE HOLE FOR THE NIGHT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE PIPE WAS CUT AND A 7.81 FT PUP WAS INSTALLED.
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.