CENTERPOINT ENERGY GAS TRANSMISSION

Incident Narrative

ON AUGUST 31, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 16:20 AN OPERATOR EMPLOYEE ARRIVED AT THE FOUKE TB STATION ON CEGT LINE AM-129 IN RESPONSE TO A COMMUNICATION FAILURE TICKET. AT 16:26 THE EMPLOYEE NOTICE AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE BUILDING WHERE THE STATION METER IS LOCATED. WHEN THEY OPENED THE DOOR TO THE BUILDING THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE EGM WAS ON FIRE AND THAT BURNING GAS WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE PRESSURE TRANSMITTER SENSING LINE. THE FIELD EMPLOYEE CONTACT SYSTEM CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 16:48 INFORMING THEM OF THE INCIDENT AND THAT HE WOULD ISOLATE THE METER BY CLOSING THE INLET AND OUTLET VALVES TO THE METER TO LET THE FIRE BURN ITSELF OUT. THE FIELD EMPLOYEE CALLED BACK TO SYSTEM CONTROL REQUESTING THAT THEY NOTIFY OTHER EMPLOYEES ON HIS FIELD TEAM THAT HE WOULD NEED A ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR OF THE METER. HELP ARRIVED AT 17:03 AND THEY WERE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE 1/4 INCH VALVE THAT FED THE SENSING LINE THAT STILL BURNING. AT APPROXIMATELY 17:22 SYSTEM CONTROL WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE MELTED EGM WAS REMOVED, AND THE 1/4 INCH BALL VALVE WAS REPLACED AND PLUGGED. THE METER WAS INSPECTED AND NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND. THE STATION WAS PUT BACK IN SERVICE AT 18:00. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT LIGHTENING HAD HIT THE PRESSURE TRANSMITTER SENSING LINE CAUSING THE LEAK AND FIRE.