COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO INC

Incident Narrative

ON JANUARY 31, 2019 COLUMBIA WAS CALLED TO 1209 COLES BLVD FOR AN ODOR IN THE ATMOSPHERE. COLUMBIA PERSONNEL WERE ON-SITE INVESTIGATING THE ODOR REPORT WHEN AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED AT 1245 COLES BLVD. UNIT 29. PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION COLUMBIA EMPLOYEES CONDUCTED A LEAK INVESTIGATION, ESTABLISHED A LEAKAGE PERIMETER, REMOVED MANHOLE COVERS TO FACILITATE VENTING, SET UP TRAFFIC CONTROL, CALLED FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, EVACUATED THE EIGHT UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING AND TURNED THE SERVICE OFF TO ALL UNITS. A LEAK WAS DISCOVERED ON A 6"" BARE STEEL MAIN APPROXIMATELY 85' FROM THE FOUNDATION OF 1245 COLES BLVD UNIT 32. THE 6"" BARE STEEL MAIN WAS OPERATING AT 38 POUNDS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. A NON-CAUSAL LEAK WAS DETECTED NEARBY ON THE 4"" BARE STEEL MAIN OPERATING AT 3.9 POUNDS. THE LEAKS WERE REPAIRED AND SERVICE RESTORED TO FIVE OF THE EIGHT UNITS. COLUMBIA WORKED WITH THE PUCO, STATE FIRE MARSHALL AND THE PORTSMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION. IT'S COLUMBIA'S OPINION THAT THE LEAK FROM THE 6"" BARE STEEL MAIN LIKELY MIGRATED THROUGH THE COMBINATION STORM AND SANITARY SEWER INTO THE FLOOR DRAIN OF 1245 COLES BLVD, UNIT 29. COLUMBIA VERIFIED THAT THE FLOOR DRAIN OF UNIT 29 DIRECTLY COMMUNICATED WITH THE COMBINATION STORM DRAIN AND SANITARY SEWER VIA USE OF A VIDEO CAMERA. COLUMBIA IS REPLACING BOTH THE 6"" BARE STEEL AND 4"" BARE STEEL MAINS WITHIN THE AREA OF 1245 COLES BLVD IN 2019. COLUMBIA CONSIDERS THIS ITS FINAL REPORT AND NO OTHER REPORTS ARE FORTHCOMING.