COLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA
gas_distribution Incident — WASHINGTON, PA — July 31, 2019
Incident Information
| Incident Date | July 31, 2019 |
| Operator | COLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | WASHINGTON |
| State | PA |
| County | WASHINGTON |
| Coordinates | 40.16301, -80.25245 |
Cause
| Cause | INCORRECT OPERATION |
| Subcause | OTHER INCORRECT OPERATION |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $337 |
| Emergency Response | $10,000 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"ON JULY 31, 2019 A HOME AT 100 PARK LANE, WASHINGTON, PA EXPLODED. THREE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND THE CUSTOMER AT 100 PARK LANE WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL, ONE OF WHOM REQUIRED ADMITTANCE. THERE WERE NO LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. THE COMPANY WAS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF A PRESSURE UPRATE PROJECT. THE GAS SYSTEM PRESSURE WAS BEING INCREASED FROM LOW PRESSURE (INCHES OF WATER COLUMN) TO MEDIUM PRESSURE (40 PSIG). SERVICE AND MAINLINE RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE THAT 100 PARK LANE WAS SERVED FROM THE SYSTEM BEING UPRATED. THEREFORE A SERVICE REGULATOR WAS NOT INSTALLED AT THE METER ON THE PREMISES TO CONTROL ELEVATED PRESSURE. SINCE NO SERVICE REGULATOR WAS INSTALLED, GAS ENTERED THE HOUSE AND REACHED APPLIANCES AT A LINE PRESSURE OF 40 PSIG. THE FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORT INDICATES THAT THE FURNACE IN THE HOME WAS THE SOURCE OF IGNITION. AFTER THE INCIDENT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE SERVICE LINE FOR 100 PARK LANE WAS TAPPED INTO A MAINLINE THAT WAS PART OF THE UPRATE PROJECT."
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.