CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.

Incident Narrative

J.F. CONSTRUCTION, A CONTRACTOR WORKING FOR CENTERPOINT ENERGY, WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING AN EXISTING 3/4"" STEEL SERVICE LINE TO AN INACTIVE ACCOUNT AT 37 KNIGHT DRIVE, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR. A LOCATE WAS REQUESTED FROM THE ARKANSAS ONE CALL CENTER TO LOCATED ALL FACILITIES; HOWEVER THE CONTRACTOR WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCATING THE CENTERPOINT ENERGY FACILITIES. EMPLOYEES OF J.F CONSTRUCTION USED A PIPE LOCATOR TO VERIFY THE LOCATION OF THE EXISTING SERVICE, FOUND IT TO NOT BE IN CONFLICT WITH THEIR PLANNED WORK, BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY MARK THE REMAINDER OF THE SERVICE LINE. DUE TO THE LARGE TREES ON THE PROPERTY, THE ORIGINAL SERVICE LINE INSTALLATION DID NOT TAKE A PERPENDICULAR PATH FROM THE MAIN. A PNEUMATIC BORING TOOL WAS PLACED IN A BELL HOLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING A NEW SERVICE. AFTER BORING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE TOOL STRUCK WHAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE EXISTING SERVICE LINE. THE IMPACT FROM THE BORING TOOL BENT THE 3/4' STEEL SERVICE LINE AT THE IMPACT POINT, CAUSING A PARTIAL SEPARATION OF THE PIPE AT A THREADED COUPLING SIX FEET EAST OF THE MOBILE HOME AND ANOTHER LEAK OF UNDETERMINED NATURE UNDER THE MOBILE HOME. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER THE LEAK BEGAN, A SMALL EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE AND THE RESULTING FLASH CAUSED SECOND-DEGREE BURNS TO THE RESIDENT INSIDE THE MOBILE HOME. HYDRAULIC SQUEEZE TOOLS WERE USED TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS AND TO RETIRE/ABANDON THE SERVICE LINE. THE PIPELINE FACILITY (SERVICE LINE) REMAINS SHUT DOWN. HOWEVER, INSTALLATION OF A NEW SERVICE IS NOT ANTICIPATED. THEREFORE, WE ARE NOT PLANNING TO FILE A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT. CENTERPOINT ENERGY DOES NOT ANTICIPATE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS FROM THIS INCIDENT. WE ANTICIPATE ALL ASSOCIATED COSTS TO BE BORNE BY THE CONTRACTOR. ALSO, SINCE WE HAVE NO ACCESS TO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR MEDICAL CLAIM INFORMATION, WE ARE ESTIMATING THESE TO BE $50,000.