ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION - KY/MID-STATES (MID-STATES)

Incident Narrative

ORIGINAL DOT INCIDENT REPORT #1250847 48 HR. NRC FOLLOW UP REPORT #1250999 ON 7/3/19 AT APPROX. 0830 ATMOS ENERGY CONSTRUCTION CREW ARRIVED FOR A SCHEDULED GRADE 2 LEAK REPAIR ON A 6' STEEL MAIN WITHIN THE INTERSECTION OF VOLUNTEER PARKWAY AND BROAD ST. UPON EXPOSURE, LEAK APPEARED TO BE BETWEEN (2) EXISTING CLAMPS INSTALLED DURING A PRIOR REPAIR. THE CREW ENTERED THE EXCAVATION WITH INTENT TO TIGHTEN THE EXISTING CLAMPS TO REMEDY THE LEAK. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WERE IN PLACE INCLUDING ACTIVE MONITORING OF % GAS WITHIN THE BELL HOLE AND MANNED FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AT NO TIME WAS A SIGNIFICANT RELEASE OF GAS HEARD OR RECORDED BY INSTRUMENT WHICH WOULD INDICATE A FLAMMABLE ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER, DURING THE REPAIR AT APPROX. 0935, NATURAL GAS IGNITED/FLASHED AND INJURED THREE CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYEES. NO SUSTAINED FLAME EXISTED WHICH REQUIRED SHUTDOWN OF THE GAS PIPING SYSTEM AND PUBLIC RISK WAS ASSESSED AND CONFIRMED AS NON-HAZARDOUS WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL ON THE SCENE. REPORTING TO TPUC, PHMSA, AND OSHA WAS COMPLETED WHEN THE OPERATOR CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS PERSONAL INJURY NECESSITATING IN-PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO INITIATE A REPLACEMENT PROJECT RATHER THAN A TEMPORARY REPAIR. REPLACEMENT OF THE PIPELINE WAS COMPLETED ON 9/25/19 AS DESCRIBED PER THE PROJECT SCOPE IN THE ORIGINAL REPORT NARRATIVE (#1250999).