MOUNTAINEER GAS CO

gas_distribution Incident — DUNBAR, WV

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorMOUNTAINEER GAS CO
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityDUNBAR
StateWV
CountyKANAWHA
Coordinates38.36469, -81.74176

Cause

CauseEXCAVATION DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage
Lost Commodity
Public/Private Damage
Emergency Response
Environmental Remediation
Other Costs

Location Map

Incident Narrative

3J UNDERGROUND LLC WORKING FOR B N D SERVICES LLC WORKING FOR FIBER MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC/SECURENET FIBER INTERNET TO INSTALL FIBER CONDUIT WITH A DIRECTIONAL BORE MACHINE. 3J FAILED TO HAND-DIG OR SPOT THE GAS FACILITIES WHILE BORING. ON THE FIRST OF TWO TRIES, THE BORING HEAD PUNCHED THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE 4 STEEL MAIN AND GAS MIGRATED INTO A NEARBY DAMAGED SEWER LINE. 3J THEN BORED A SECOND HOLE ABOVE THE MGC PIPE AND INSTALLED THE PLASTIC CONDUIT, CALLED MGC'S LOCATOR DIRECTLY TO REPORT AN ODOR OF GAS, AND LEFT THE SCENE BEFORE MGC LOCATOR ARRIVED ON SCENE AND NOTIFIED MGC DISPATCH. WHILE MGC PERSONNEL WERE INVESTIGATING THE ODOR OF GAS, THE HOUSE AT 1321 VIRGINIA AVE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. ADDITIONAL MGC PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT WERE CALLED IN TO FIND AND REPAIR THE DAMAGED PIPE. DAMAGE TO THE PIPE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF MULTIPLE POINTS OF CONTACT.

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.

Back to All Incidents More Incidents in WV