NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS CO
gas_distribution Incident — ANCONA, IL — October 8, 2020
Incident Information
| Incident Date | October 8, 2020 |
| Operator | NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS CO |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | ANCONA |
| State | IL |
| County | LIVINGSTON |
| Coordinates | 41.04610, -88.87215 |
Cause
| Cause | INCORRECT OPERATION |
| Subcause | OTHER INCORRECT OPERATION |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $648,742 |
| Emergency Response | $2,500 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"EARLIER IN THE EVENING AND PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE GAS CONTROLLER OBSERVED AT HH ALARM ON THE SEND OUT PRESSURE FOR THE REGULATING STATION. THE CONTROLLER MADE APPROPRIATE AND PROMPT NOTIFICATION TO LOCAL PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION/MAINTENANCE OF THE REGULATING STATION. OPERATING PERSONNEL RESPONDED AND VERIFIED THAT THE STATION WAS PASSING GAS AND THE PIPELINE PRESSURE DOWNSTREAM OF THE STATION HAD EXCEEDED THE SYSTEM MAOP. THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE PIPELINE PRESSURE BY INTENTIONALLY VENTING GAS TO ATMOSPHERE AT THE STATION. DURING THE VENTING PROCESS, IGNITION OCCURRED, RESULTING IN A FIRE AT THE STATION. THE STATION REGULATING EQUIPMENT AND OTHER STATION ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. THE STATION WAS ISOLATED TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE STATION IMPACTED EQUIPMENT WAS RE-BUILT AND THE STATION WAS PUT BACK INTO SERVICE."
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.