NORTHEAST OHIO NATURAL GAS CORP

Incident Narrative

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 6:11 AM RECEIVED A CALL FROM OUR AFTER HOURS CALL SERVICER ABOUT DAMAGE FROM A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN BLOWING GAS. 6:45 ARRIVE ON SCENE TO FIND A FARM TAP IN PIECES AN BLOWING GAS AND THAT ST RT 45 IS CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC. BOTH TRUMBULL COUNTY SHERIFF AND OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL ARE ON SCENE. HE FOUND OUT THAT THE HOMEOWNER HAD SHUT THE BLOWING VALVE ON THE 1"" STEEL RISER BUT COULD STILL HEAR GAS BLOWING. 6:55 SECOND EMPLOYEE ARRIVES ON SCENE. IDENTIFIES THAT THE DAMAGE IS TO THE TAP FEEDING A FARM TAP THAT IS ON OUR LINE KNOWN AS MCFLOW, A 3"" COATED STEEL MAINLINE HE IDENTIFIES THE VALVE TO THE SOUTH AT THE BLOOMFIELD TBS AND TO THE NORTH, HANIES RD. AND FLAGG RD. AS THE VALVES NEEDED TO ISOLATE THE DAMAGED TAP. 7:15 THE OCCUPANTS OF 9347 PAINESVILLE HAVE LEFT THE PROPERTY. 8:30 THE TAP IS EXPOSED AND WE CAN SEE THE SIZE OF THE CRACK IN THE RISER. 12:15 PM GAS HAS STOPPED BLOWING AT DAMAGED TAP. WHILE THIS IS ALL GOING ON BUCKEYE PIPELINE IS CONTACTED AND IS REQUESTED TO SEND A WELDER AND CREW TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. 1:15 PM CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL START ARRIVING ON SCENE. AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO TURN IN THE TAP CUTTER HEAD WITH THE IDEA OF SEALING UP THE TAP. BUT THE HOLE IN THE MAINLINE THAT IS NORMALLY MADE WITH THE TAP CUTTING HEAD WAS BURNED IN BY A TORCH AT THE TIME THE MAINLINE WAS BUILT AND THEREFORE IT WAS LARGER THAN THE CUTTING HEAD AND WOULD NOT LINE UP AND SEAL. ULTIMATELY IT WAS DECIDED THAT ADDITIONAL MATERIAL WOULD BE NEEDED TO CUT OUT THE TAP AND REPLACE A SECTION OF MAINLINE. THE RISER WAS SEALED WITH A PLUG AND THE TAP CAP WAS SEALED, THE EXCAVATION WAS BACKFILLED FOR THE NIGHT TO BE CONTINUED IN THE MORNING WITH THE FINAL REPAIR. SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2020 7:00 THE SECTION OF PIPE BETWEEN THE BLOOMFIELD TBS TO THE SOUTH AND FLAGG ROAD TBS TO THE WEST AND PVP / PENNIMAN RD. TO THE EAST IS BLOWN DOWN TO PREPARE FOR THE TAP REPAIR. 7:30 AM BUCKEYE PIPELINE BEGINS WELDING ON FOUR TAPS, TWO ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DAMAGED TAP TO BE USED AS AIR MOVERS. A 15' PIECE OF THE 3"" MAIN CONTAINING THE TAP IS CUT OUT AND IS REPLACED. TAPS ARE TURNED IN AND SEALED. THE VALVE AT THE BLOOMFIELD STATION IS CRACKED OPEN SO THE SECTION OF MAINLINE CAN BE PURGED AT THE FLAGG RD. TBS AS WELL AS AT PVP INDUSTRIES. THE WELDS ARE SOAPED TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AND THE ENTIRE SECTION OF PIPE IS COATED AND WRAPPED. 1:00 PM THE DAMAGED SECTION OF MAINLINE IS PUT BACK IN SERVICE.