ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION - MID-TEX

Incident Narrative

ADDITIONAL NRC# 1239009 ON FEBRUARY 27, 2019, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION BASED ON CIRCUMSTANCES THAT AROSE IN GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, ATMOS ENERGY DETERMINED THAT IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE OPERATOR CONDITIONS BECAME SIGNIFICANT AND WARRANTED A TELEPHONIC INCIDENT REPORT TO ITS SAFETY REGULATORS DUE TO AN ABNORMAL, CONTINUED PRESENCE OF RESIDUAL GAS FOLLOWING A ROUTINE RESPONSE TO A LEAK INVESTIGATION. SPECIFICALLY, ATMOS ENERGY HAD PREVIOUSLY RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF PRESENCE OF A NATURAL GAS ODOR AND DISCOVERED A LEAK AT THE INTERSECTION OF RIVER BEND DR. AND OAK LN. PER APPLICABLE RULES AND ATMOS ENERGY'S ROUTINE OPERATING PROCEDURES APPROVED BY THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, CREWS TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REPAIR DISCOVERED LEAKS, AND BEGAN CONTINUOUS MONITORING. DURING THE PROCESS OF CONTINUOUS MONITORING, ATMOS ENERGY CONDUCTED PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATIONS OF THE IMMEDIATE AREA BEGINNING FEBRUARY 21, 2019. THE MAIN SERVING THE AFFECTED AREA WAS SHUT DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 PM ON FEBRUARY 21, 2019. HOWEVER, THE SOIL OR OTHER CONDITIONS WITHIN THE AREA APPEARED TO BE CAUSING NATURAL GAS TO VENTILATE SLOWLY. THUS, AS THE LEAK MONITORING AND SURVEY ACTIVITY WAS EXPANDED, UNSAFE LEVELS OF RESIDUAL GAS WERE DETECTED TO STILL BE PRESENT IN A LARGER AREA WHICH LED TO ADDITIONAL EVACUATIONS. AT THIS POINT, ATMOS ENERGY ELECTED TO MAKE A REPORT. THE CONDITIONS IN GEORGETOWN RESULTED IN DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE TO 73 METERS AND THE EVACUATION OF 86 STRUCTURES. EVACUATIONS WERE LIFTED ACCORDING TO OUR PROCEDURES AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, AND SERVICE HAS BEEN RESTORED TO ALL CUSTOMERS. ATMOS ENERGY'S ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS OF THE LEAK IN QUESTION DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK TO BE IMPROPER BUTT FUSION ON THE 3-INCH MAIN.