CENTERPOINT ENERGY GAS TRANSMISSION

gas_transmission Incident — — February 16, 2010

Incident Information

Incident DateFebruary 16, 2010
OperatorCENTERPOINT ENERGY GAS TRANSMISSION
CommodityNATURAL GAS
Pipeline Typegas_transmission

Location

State
Coordinates35.70840, -99.90703

Cause

CauseEQUIPMENT FAILURE
SubcauseTHREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage$3,838
Emergency Response$0
Other Costs$0

Location Map

Incident Narrative

AT APPROXIMATELY 08:18 HRS ON FEBRUARY 22, A FIELD EMPLOYEE WAS PERFORMING ANNUAL VALVE MAINTENANCE ON AUXILIARY VALVE ON CEGT LINE AD-WEST. HE CONNECTED A CRESCENT WRENCH TO A 1'X 1/2 ' SWEDGE CONNECTION FOR THE 1/2 ' BALL VALVE AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED HEARING GAS LEAKING. HE NOTIFIED SYSTEM CONTROL AT 08:25 HRS. IT WAS FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE EVENT WOULD BE CORRECTED WITH MINOR COMPLICATIONS. HOWEVER, AFTER EVALUATING THE SITUATION ALONG WITH FIELD EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT AND SYSTEM CONTROL IT WAS DECIDED THAT LINE AD-WEST WOULD HAVE TO BE BLOWN DOWN TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS (APPROXIMATELY 10:18 HRS). SYSTEM CONTROL CALCULATED THE LINE FILL AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BLOW DOWN WOULD BE @ 12,427 MCF VALUED AT $65,863. SYSTEM CONTROL THEN NOTIFIED THE NRC AT 11:42. THE LINE WAS BLOWN DOWN REPAIRS MADE AND THE LINE WAS BACK IN SERVICE BY 23:20 HRS.

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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