TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE CO (EL PASO)
gas_transmission Incident — — February 10, 2011
Incident Information
| Incident Date | February 10, 2011 |
| Operator | TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE CO (EL PASO) |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_transmission |
Location
| State | |
| Coordinates | 40.73407, -80.89249 |
Cause
| Cause | MATERIAL FAILURE OF PIPE OR WELD |
| Subcause | DESIGN-, CONSTRUCTION-, INSTALLATION-, OR FABRICATION-RELATED |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $2,500,000 |
| Emergency Response | $50,000 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
GAS CONTROL PERSONNEL FOR TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE (TGP) NOTICED PRESSURE DROPS RELATIVE TO ITS PIPELINE IN VALVE SECTION 214 DOWNSTREAM OF CARROLLTON COMPRESSOR STATION AND NEAR THE TOWN OF HANOVERTON, OH AROUND 10:30 PM EST ON FEBRUARY 10, 2011. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TGP RECEIVED A REPORT FROM A LOCAL LANDOWNER OF A FIRE SOME 11,000 FEET NORTH OF VALVE 214 IN LINE 4. UPON RESPONDING, FIELD PERSONNEL VERIFIED THAT A RUPTURE HAD OCCURRED IN LINE 4 WHERE IT CROSSES MCKAIG ROAD IN COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OH. THERE WAS NO FORMAL EVACUATION OF LOCAL RESIDENTS ALTHOUGH EMERGENCY REPONDERS DID ADVISE SOME TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE (TGP WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY EVACUATION). POST-INCIDENT ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS REVEALED THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF TENSILE OVERLOAD ON A PRE-EXISTING HYDROGEN ASSISTED CRACK IN THE UNDERBEAD OF THE GIRTH WELD. THE CRACK ORIGINATED DURING THE WELDING PROCESS AT THE TIME OF ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION. THE TENSILE OVERLOAD WAS THE RESULT OF A NUMBER OF INTERACTING STRESSORS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THERMAL CONTRACTION STRESSES. THE PIPELINE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, PURGED, AND LOADED WITH NATURAL GAS TO A PRESSURE OF 491 PSIG.
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.