KEYSPAN ENERGY DELIVERY - NY CITY

Incident Narrative

AT APPROX. 14:56 ON THURSDAY, JUNE 21, CUSTOMER AND METER SERVICES (CMS) WAS RESPONDING TO AN OUTSIDE LEAK INVESTIGATION AT 408 SOUTH 2ND STREET. AFTER SIGNIFICANT INVESTIGATION AT SEVERAL ADDRESSES IN THE PROXIMITY OF THIS LOCATION, FIELD PERSONNEL OBTAINED A GAS READING OF 90% AT A SEWER MANHOLE AT 10 TEN EYCK STREET, AS CALLED IN TO OUR DISPATCH CENTER. AFTER CONTINUED TESTING, THE LEAK LOCATION WAS NARROWED DOWN TO 408 SOUTH 2ND STREET. EMPLOYEES WERE HAND-DIGGING OVER A 6"" CI MAIN (INTERSECTING A 16"" CI MAIN TEE FITTING). THE WORKERS HAD EXCAVATED A 5' X 3' OPENING, WHICH STARTED TO GIVE WAY DUE TO WATER INFILTRATION, AND A FIRE ENSUED (6/22 AT 00:40). THREE EMPLOYEES WERE TREATED FOR BURNS: (2 ON SCENE) AND ONE TRANSPORTED VIA EMS TO LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION AND RELEASED THE SAME DAY. AT 01:26 ON FRIDAY JUNE 22, DETERMINED THAT A WATER MAIN BREAK HAD OCCURRED IN THE AREA, AND UNDERMINED THE EXCAVATION, WHICH POTENTIALLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE 6"" GAS MAIN. WATER MAIN RELEASE WAS CONTROLLED BETWEEN 03:27 AND 04:30 ON JUNE 22. GAS MAIN WAS SHUT DOWN AT 11:00 ON JUNE 22 AND RESTARTED AT 15:00. APPARENT CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS WATER INFILTRATION WHICH CAUSED THE LOW PRESSURE CAST IRON MAIN TO BE UNDERMINED, RUPTURE AND THEN SET ON FIRE. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PROXIMITY OF AN EXPOSED UNDERGROUND COMMUNICATIONS WIRE (60 V AC). SIZE OF DAMAGED AREA IS APPROX. 1/2 X 8"" CRACK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE RELEASE OF APPROX. 247.2 MCF.