NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE CO

Incident Narrative

WHILE STOPPING THE DEAD END OF A PIPELINE FOR SCHEDULED WORK, TDW SHORTSTOPP II PLUGGING SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING A RELEASE OF GAS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, FATALITIES, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE RELEASE OF GAS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVACUATED APPROXIMATELY 900 RESIDENTS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. I WILL BE PROVIDING UPDATES EVERY 30 DAYS. 6/12/2020 UPDATE: AT THIS TIME, THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS INCIDENT IS STILL ONGOING. I WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE IN 30 DAYS OR ONCE ALL THE FACTS ARE KNOWN, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. 7/13/2020 UPDATE: AT THIS TIME, THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS INCIDENT IS STILL ONGOING. WE ARE EXPECTING INITIAL RESULTS FROM A 3RD PARTY TESTING FACILITY WITHIN THE NEXT 14 DAYS. I WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE IN 30 DAYS OR ONCE ALL THE FACTS ARE KNOWN, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. 8/13/2020 UPDATE: AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE RECEIVED RESULTS FROM A 3RD PARTY VENDOR AND ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF THE INVESTIGATION. I WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE IN 30 DAYS OR ONCE ALL THE FACTS OR KNOWN, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. 4/16/2021 FINAL UPDATE: THE WRONG TOOLING WAS SELECTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE JOB. THE STOPPLE EQUIPMENT USED WAS RATED FOR 150 PSI AND THE PIPE WAS OPERATING AT 190 PSI. THIS WAS A RESULT OF CONFUSING LANGUAGE IN THE MANUFACTURES EQUIPMENT LISTING TABLE , HUMAN ERROR, AND GAPS IN A TOOL SELECTION PROCESS.