KEYSPAN ENERGY DELIVERY - NY CITY

Incident Narrative

DISPATCH WAS NOTIFIED ON 3/5/15 AT 12:30 BY CMS REGARDING AN OUTSIDE LEAK INVESTIGATION FINDING OF 7% GAS READING IN A SEWER MANHOLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF PACIFIC ST AND NEVINS ST. FIELD OPERATIONS WAS NOTIFIED AND RESPONDED TO THE LOCATION TO PERFORM A LEAK INVESTIGATION. WHILE CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED A CON ED BURNOUT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. THE BURNOUT DAMAGED A 6"" LOW PRESSURE PLASTIC MAIN. NATIONAL GRID AND CON ED HAD CREWS AT THE LOCATION TRYING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. GAS FROM THE DAMAGED MAIN WAS MIGRATING INTO THE NEARBY CON ED MANHOLE WHEN A FLASH/FIRE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 21:00. THE CON ED EMPLOYEE WORKING IN THE MANHOLE WAS USING A LIGHT BULB THAT SUDDENLY BROKE AND THEN BECAME A SOURCE OF IGNITION SETTING THE MANHOLE ON FIRE. FIELD OPERATIONS WAS NOT ABLE TO SAFELY SECURE THE GAS AT THE DESIRED LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE ENERGIZED CABLE LINES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE DAMAGED MAIN AND THE FIRE IN THE MANHOLE. REMOTE OPENINGS WERE NOW NECESSARY AS A CONTINGENCY TO SECURE THE GAS OR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS CON ED WAS ABLE TO DE-ENERGIZE THEIR CABLE LINES IN ORDER FOR THE FD TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE ALLOWING FIELD OPERATIONS TO SAFELY SECURE. CON ED DE-ENERGIZED THEIR LINES AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 ON 3/6/2015 AND THE FD WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AT 9:00. FIELD OPERATIONS WAS NOW ABLE TO SAFELY SECURE THE GAS AT 10:30.