COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO INC

Incident Narrative

ON FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015, COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO INC. (COLUMBIA) RECEIVED A CALL REGARDING A LEAK ON A DAMAGED STEEL PIPELINE. COLUMBIA RESPONDED, ESTABLISHED A PERIMETER AND REDUCED THE SYSTEM OPERATING PRESSURE FROM 120 PSIG TO 35 PSIG. COLUMBIA EXCAVATED THE DAMAGED STEEL MAIN AND FOUND THAT IT WAS FLATTENED WITH A CRACK IN THE SIDE OF THE PIPE DUE TO A GUARD RAIL INSTALLATION. COLUMBIA REPAIR CREWS MADE A TEMPORARY REPAIR TO STOP THE LEAK AND DECIDED NOT TO RETURN THE SYSTEM BACK TO NORMAL OPERATING PRESSURE UNTIL A PERMANENT REPAIR COULD BE COMPLETED. COLUMBIA MONITORED THE DAMAGE 24/7 AND CONDUCTED PERIODIC PRESSURE MONITORING UNTIL THE PERMANENT REPLACEMENT WAS COMPLETE. ON MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015, COLUMBIA DETERMINED THAT THE COST OF REPAIR WOULD EXCEED THE $50,000 DOLLAR REPORTING CRITERIA AND A NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER AND THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO. THE DAMAGE TO COLUMBIA'S FACILITY OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE MISMARKING OF THE GAS MAIN. THE STEEL GAS MAIN COULD NOT BE CONDUCTIVELY LOCATED DUE TO SIGNAL BLEED OFF AND A DISCREPANCY IN FACILITY RECORDS. THE DISCREPANCY IN COLUMBIA'S INVENTORY RECORDS HAS BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS REPORT FINAL.