NYS DPS Incident Investigaton 7/23/12 Lightning Strike, Williams Dunbar Compressor, Windsor NY

STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE THREE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA, ALBANY, NY 12223-1350

www.dps.ny.gov

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AUDREY ZIBELMAN PETER McGOWAN Chair General Counsel PATRICIA L. ACAMPORA GARRY A. BROWN KATHLEEN H. BURGESS GREGG C. SAYRE Secretary DIANE X. BURMAN Commissioners

November 7, 2013

Via Electronic Mail

Cheryl I. Sacco, Esq.

Coughlin & Gerhart LLP

PO Box 2039.

Binghamton, New York 13902

RE: Request for a copy of the PSC report regarding the July 23, 2012 Lightning Strike at the

Compressor Station located in the Town of Windsor.

Dear Ms. Sacco:

This is our final response to your request received October 4, 2013 asking for the

record(s) described above. Enclosed you will find the requested records consisting of a 23-page

PDF report. I hereby certify, pursuant to Public Officers Law §89(3) that, insofar as you

reasonably described the records, no other records responsive to your request could be found

after diligent search of records maintained by the Department.

We trust this material is responsive to your request. To the extent this response

denies you access to any records, you may seek a review of this decision pursuant to POL

§89(4)(a) by filing a written appeal within 30 days of the date of this letter with Kathleen H.

Burgess, Secretary to the Commission, at the above address.

Sincerely,

Donna Giliberto

Assistant Counsel

Records Access Officer

NYS Dept. Of Public Service

Office of Electric, Gas & Water Division

Safety Section

Incident Investigation Report

Pipeline System: Williams Midstream Pipeline Operator: Williams Midstream

Location: Williams Midstream Compressor Station:

Patterson Road, Town of Windsor, NY Date of Incident: July 23, 2012

Material Released: Natural gas Quantity: 510,000 cubic feet

Staff Arrival Time & Date: August 15, 2012 / 9:30AM Total Damages $ 0.00

Report Date (Final): Matter Number 12-01771

Company Reported Apparent Cause: Company Reported Sub-Cause (from either telephonic notice or 30-day report(1)):

Corrosion

X Natural Forces (There was no company report to National Response Center as the event did not

meet the minimum criteria requiring it.) Lightning struck the main vent stack at

the compressor station building, igniting the gas that was venting from the same

stack while routine compressor maintenance was being performed. Emergency

responders were called by a citizen, not the operator.

Excavation Damage

Other Outside Force Damage

Material Failure

Equipment Failure

Incorrect Operation

Other

Accident/Incident Resulted in (check all that apply): Comments:

Rupture

Leak

X Fire Fire occurred when gas discharging from the main vent

stack of the compressor station during routine compressor

maintenance was ignited by lightening. The flame was

confined to the vent plume from the stack. No injuries to

people (on or off site) or damage to facilities occurred.

Explosion

X Evacuation Number of Persons: Approx. 20

Area: Approx. 0.5 mile radius

1 Or from PHMSA Form 7000-1/7100.2 if appropriate.


Page 2 of 23

Incident Investigation Report (Rev. 3/30/2011 through Amdt. 192-113 & 195-93).

Narrative Summary

Short summary of the Incident/Accident scenario

The Williams compressor station building, a large singular building housing four reciprocal compressors (with capacity to hold

several more units) is remotely located on the top of a hill, off of Patterson Road in the Town of Windsor, NY.

At the time of the incident on 7/23/2012, three of the compressors were in service and a fourth had been shut down while

undergoing manufacturer’s (Caterpillar) recommended periodic maintenance (spark plugs, valve calibrations, etc.). As part of

the restart procedure, the natural gas that was still within the fourth compressor had to be purged prior to the restarting. At the

time this purge was taking place, a violent lightning storm was occurring in the region. Lightning struck on (or near) the

station’s main vent stack during the purging of the unit and ignited the venting gas. Williams’ personnel saw a large orange

glow from the flame, realizing there was a fire but unaware of its precise nature. They immediately engaged the emergency

shutdown system (ESD) to deprive the fire of further fuel, thereby venting all of the station’s gas into the stack, increasing the

flame height. All of the fire was confined to the venting gas plume. No damage occurred to any structures or to the

environment, and there were no injuries. The ignited gas plume resulted in notice from local citizens, who called 911. As a

precaution, the responding emergency authorities evacuated approximately 20 citizens along Patterson Road and Dunbar Road.

The evacuation lasted approximately one hour. Williams’ personnel fully informed the responding authorities of what had

occurred, walked them through the compressor site and arranged for further gas emergency training with them. Staff’s

investigation concluded that vent stack and the ESD functioned as designed and the operator responded in a prudent manner, in

accordance with their Emergency Plan.

Name Title Signature Date

Lead Investigator Kristan Harsh Utility Specialist-Safety I Approved in DMM3 9/20/2012

Contributing Staff Steven Blaney Utility Engineer III (Safety) Approved in DMM3 10/3/2013

Contributing Staff

Local Supervisor Brett Mahan Utility Engineer II (Safety) Approved in DMM3 5/17/2013

Regional Supervisor

Section Chief Kevin Speicher Chief, Safety Section Approved in DMM3 5/31/2013

Reviewed By

Counsel Steven Kramer Assistant Counsel Reviewed in DMM 10/2/2013

Failure Location & Response

Location (City, Township, Range, County/Parish): (Acquire Map)

Town of Windsor, NY / Operator’s Google Earth overhead view files of Williams’s facilities were acquired.

Address or M.P. on Pipeline: (2)

Type of Area (Rural, City): (1)

106 Patterson Road, Windsor Rural.

Coordinates of failure location: Latitude: 42.117016 Longitude: -75.71627

Date: 7/23/2012 Time of Failure: The event occurred at 17:30 hrs

Time Detected: 17:30 (5:30 PM) Time Located: 17:30 (5:30 PM)

How Located: Five (5) operator personnel (2 Williams personnel, 3 contractor personnel) witnessed the event at the

compressor station. They were inside the building performing maintenance on one of the compressors.

NRC Report #: (Attach Report) Time Reported to NRC: Reported by:

N/A N/A N/A

2 Photo documentation


Page 3 of 23


Failure Location & Response

Type of Pipeline:

Gas Distribution Gas Transmission Hazardous Liquid ___ LNG

__ Municipal X Interstate Gas __ Interstate Liquid

__ Public Utility _ Intrastate Gas __ Intrastate Liquid

__ Gas Gathering

Pipeline Configuration (Regulator Station, Pump Station, Pipeline, etc.):

Large compressor station complex, with multiple sizes of incoming and outgoing, buried and above ground, steel piping and

appurtenances.

Operator/Owner Information

Owner: Williams Midstream Operator: Williams Midstream

Address: 51 Warren Street, Tunkhannock, PA 18657

Address: (same)

Company Official: Dave Thompson (Regional Operations

Supervisor) Company Official: (same)

Phone No.: 570-965-9001 Fax No.: 570-965-3119 Phone No. 570-965-9001 Fax No. 570-965-3119

Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Contacts X N/A

Drug Program Contact & Phone:

Alcohol Program Contact & Phone:

Damages

Product/Gas Loss or Spill(3)

510,000 cubic feet Estimated Property Damage $ 0.00

Amount Recovered 0 Associated Damages(4)

$0.00

Estimated Amount $ $2000

Description of Property Damage: There were no damages to any property.

Customers out of Service: __ Yes __ No Number: NOT APPLICABLE.

Suppliers out of Service: __ Yes __ No Number: NOT APPLICABLE.

Fatalities and Injuries _X N/A

Fatalities: __ Yes __ No Company: Contractor: Public:

Injuries - Hospitalization: __ Yes __ No Company: Contractor: Public:

Injuries - Non-Hospitalization: __ Yes __ No Company: Contractor: Public:

Total Injuries (including Non-Hospitalization): Company: Contractor: Public:

3 Initial volume lost or spilled

4 Including cleanup cost


Page 4 of 23


Fatalities and Injuries _X N/A

Yrs. w/

Comp.

Yrs.

Exp.

Name Job Function Type of Injury

Drug/Alcohol Testing _X__ N/A

Were all employees that could have contributed to the incident, post-accident tested within the 2 hour time frame for alcohol or

the 32 hour time frame for all other drugs?

___Yes ___No

Job Function Test Date & Time Location Results

Type of Drug Pos Neg

System Description

Describe the Operator's System:

The interstate pipeline, originates in the Forest Lake Township in Northern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles south of the

New York/Pennsylvania border. It crosses into New York and continues to the Dunbar Compressor Station and continues to a

tap on the Millennium Pipeline. The pipeline was originally known as the “Laser Pipeline” and was built in 2011 by the original

owner, Laser Northeast Gathering, LLC. The pipeline transports natural gas onto the Millennium Pipeline from production wells

located in Pennsylvania. Williams Midstream became its new owner in early 2012. The former Laser Pipeline (now-called

WMW Pipeline, also referred to at Williams as “The New York Mainline”) includes approximately 9.8 miles of 16-inch, 0.312-

inch and .0375-inch wall X-65 welded steel pipe with fusion bond epoxy coating in New York. In addition, the New York assets

include the Dunbar Compressor Station (also constructed in 2011) located approximately 0.6 mile off of Patterson Road in the

Town of Windsor, approximately 0.5 miles from the WMW Pipeline’s connection to the Millennium Pipeline. As of August

2012, the compressor building houses 4 reciprocal compressors.

Pipe Failure Description __X_ N/A

Length of Failure (inches, feet, miles): (No failure.) (1)

Position (Top, Bottom, include position on pipe, 6 O'clock): (1)

Description of Failure (Corrosion Gouge, Seam Split): (1)

Laboratory Analysis: ___ Yes ___ No


Page 5 of 23


Pipe Failure Description __X_ N/A

Performed by:

Preservation of Failed Section or Component: ___Yes ___No

If Yes - Method:

In Custody of: Develop a sketch of the area including distances from roads, houses, stress inducing factors, pipe configurations, direction of

flow, etc. Bar Hole Test Survey Plot, if included, should be outlined with concentrations at test points.

Component Failure Description _X_ N/A

Component Failed: (No component failure.) (1)

Manufacturer: Model:

Pressure Rating: Size:

Other (Breakout Tank, Underground Storage):

Pipe Data _X__ N/A

Material: Wall Thickness/SDR:

Diameter (O.D.): Installation Date:

SMYS: Manufacturer:

Longitudinal Seam: Type of Coating:

Pipe Specifications (API 5L, ASTM A53, etc.):

Joining _X__N/A

Type: Procedure:

NDT Method: Inspected: ___ Yes ___No

Pressure @ Time of Failure @ Failure Site _X_ N/A

Pressure @ Failure Site: Elevation @ Failure Site:

Pressure Readings @ Various Locations: Direction from Failure Site

Location/M.P./Station # Pressure (psig) Elevation (ft msl) Upstream Downstream

(Note: There was no “failure”, no damage, no

injury.)


Page 6 of 23


Upstream Pump Station Data X N/A

Type of Product: API Gravity:

Specific Gravity: Flow Rate:

Pressure @ Time of Failure (5)

Distance to Failure Site:

High Pressure Set Point: Low Pressure Set Point:

Upstream Compressor Station Data _X__ N/A

Specific Gravity: Flow Rate:

Pressure @ Time of Failure (55)

Distance to Failure Site: 0 feet

High Pressure Set Point: Low Pressure Set Point:

Operating Pressure _X__ N/A

Max. Allowable Operating Pressure: Determination of MAOP:

Actual Operating Pressure:

Comment: (The event was not pressure related.) Relief Valve Set Point: Capacity Adequate? ___ Yes ___ No

Integrity Test After Failure _X__ N/A

Pressure test conducted in place? (Conducted on Failed Components or Associated Piping): ___ Yes ___ No

If No, tested after removal? ___ Yes ___ No

Method:

Describe any failures during the test.

Soil/water Conditions @ Failure Site X N/A

Condition of and Type of Soil around Failure Site (Color, Wet, Dry, Frost Depth):

Type of Backfill (Size and Description):

Type of Water (Salt, Brackish): Water Analysis (6)

___ Yes ___ No

Cathodic Protection X N/A

P/S (Surface): P/S (Interface):

Soil Resistivity: pH: Date of Installation:

Method of Protection:

Did the Operator have knowledge of Corrosion before the Incident? ___ Yes ___ No

How Discovered? (Close Interval Survey, Instrumented Pig, Annual Survey, Rectifier Readings, ECDA, etc):

5 Obtain event logs and pressure recording charts

6 Attach copy of water analysis report

Formatted: Footnote Reference, Font: TimesNew Roman, 10 pt, Superscript


Page 7 of 23


External Pipe or Component Examination ___ N/A

External Corrosion? ___Yes X No (1)

Coating Condition (Disbonded, Non-existent): N/A

(1)

Description of Corrosion:

The operator reported that there were no corrosion concerns found during post-event inspection of the facilities.

Description of Failure Surface (Gouges, Arc Burns, Wrinkle Bends, Cracks, Stress Cracks, Chevrons, Fracture Mode, Point of

Origin):

There was no asset failure involved in this incident. The event was caused by natural forces (lightning) that resulted in the

station ESD being initiated by attending operator personnel and the ESD functioning as designed. Post-incident inspection of the

vent stack by the operator found no damage or corrosion.

Above Ground: X Yes ___ No (1)

Buried: ___ Yes X No (1)

Stress Inducing Factors: N/A (1)

Depth of Cover: N/A (1)

Internal Pipe or Component Examination _X__ N/A

Internal Corrosion: ___ Yes ___No (1)

Injected Inhibitors: ___ Yes ___ No

Type of Inhibitors: Testing: ___ Yes ___ No

Results (Coupon Test, Corrosion Resistance Probe):

Description of Failure Surface (MIC, Pitting, Wall Thinning, Chevrons, Fracture Mode, Point of Origin):

Cleaning Pig Program: ___ Yes ___ No Gas and/or Liquid Analysis: ___ Yes ___ No

Results of Gas and/or Liquid Analysis (7)

Internal Inspection Survey: ___ Yes ___ No Results (8)

Did the Operator have knowledge of Corrosion before the Incident? ___ Yes ___ No

How Discovered? (Instrumented Pig, Coupon Testing, ICDA, etc.):

Natural Forces __ N/A

Description (Earthquake, Tornado, Flooding, Erosion):

Weather Event: A lightning strike during a storm occurred on, or very near, the main vent stack at the Dunbar Compressor

Station while natural gas was being purged through the vent stack from Unit 2 Compressor during routine maintenance on July

23, 2012. The personnel, seeing a distinctive orange glow (associated with fire), engaged the station ESD, resulting in more gas

from the station piping and other compressors being exhausted through the same stack and adding to the flame.

7 Attach copy of gas and/or liquid analysis report

8 Attach copy of internal inspection survey report


Page 8 of 23


Outside Force Damage X N/A

Excavator: Telephone No.:

Address:

Work Being Performed:

Equipment Involved: (1)

Called One Call System? ___ Yes ___ No

One Call Name: One Call Report # (9)

Notice Date: Time:

Response Date: Time:

Details of Response:

Was Location Marked According to Procedures? ___ Yes ___ No

Pipeline Marking Type: (1)

Location: (1)

State Law Damage Prevention Program Followed? ___ Yes ___ No (If Yes, attach copy of §753 Citation(s))

Notice Required: ___Yes ___No Response Required: ___ Yes ___ No

Was Operator Member of State One Call? ___ Yes ___ No Was Operator on Site? ___ Yes ___ No

Did a deficiency in the Public Awareness Program contribute to the accident? ___Yes ___ No

Failure Isolation _X_ N/A

Squeeze Off/Stopple Location and Method: (There was no failure or damage.)

(1)

Valve Closed - Upstream: I.D.:

Time: M.P.:

Valve Closed - Downstream: I.D.:

Time: M.P.:

Pipeline Shutdown Method: __ Manual __ Automatic __ SCADA __ Controller __ ESD

Failed Section Bypassed or Isolated: (No failure occurred in this event.)

Performed By: Valve Spacing:

Odorization X N/A

Method of Determination: Concentration of Odorant(10)

:

% LEL: __ % Gas In Air: __ Time Taken:

Was Odorizer Working Prior to the Incident? Type of Odorizer (Wick, By-Pass):

__ Yes __ No

9 Attach copy of one-call report

10 Post Incident at Failure Site


Page 9 of 23


Odorization X N/A

Odorant Manufacturer: Type of Odorant:

Model:

Amount Injected: Monitoring Interval (Weekly):

Odorization History (Leaks Complaints, Low Odorant Levels, Monitoring Locations, Distances from Failure Site):

Weather Conditions __ N/A

Temperature: Approximately 73 degrees F. Wind (Direction & Speed): Approximately 10 MPH, south-

easterly.

Climate (Snow, Rain): Rain Humidity: Dew point was approximately 66 degrees F.

Was Incident preceded by a rapid weather change? X Yes __ No

Weather Conditions Prior to Incident (Cloud Cover, Ceiling Heights, Snow, Rain, Fog):

Overcast conditions with rain with accompanying lightning and varying wind speeds, including gusts.

Gas Migration Survey _X_ N/A

Bar Hole Test of Area: __ Yes __ No Equipment Used:

Method of Survey (Foundations, Curbs, Manholes, Driveways, Mains, Services) (11)

(1)

Environment Sensitivity Impact _X_ N/A

Location (Nearest Rivers, Body of Water, Marshlands, Wildlife Refuge, City Water Supplies that could be or were affected

by the medium loss):

(1)

OPA Contingency Plan Available? __ Yes __ No Followed? __ Yes __ No

Class Location/High Consequence Area __ N/A

Class Location: 1 X 2__ 3 __ 4 __

Determination: Via initial study for pipeline during 2011

pipeline installation.

HCA Area? __ Yes X No __ N/A

Determination:

Maps & Records ___ N/A

Are Maps and Records Current? (12)

X Yes __ No

Comments:

pdf file-type Google Earth based views of Dunbar Compressor Station site acquired from the operator, with relative pipeline

location drawn.

11 Plot on site description page

12 Obtain copies of maps and records


Page 10 of 23


Pressure Test History _X_ N/A (Expand List as Necessary)

Req’d

(13)Assessment

Deadline Date Test Date Test Medium

Pressure

(psig)

Duration

(hrs) % SMYS

Installation N/A

Next

Next

Most Recent

Describe any problems experienced during the pressure tests.

Internal Line Inspection/Other Assessment History X N/A

(Expand List as Necessary)

Req’d

(13) Assessment

Deadline Date

Assessment

Date

Type of ILI

Tool (14)

Other Assessment

Method (15)

Indicated Anomaly

If yes, describe below

Initial __ Yes __ No

Next __ Yes __ No

Next __ Yes __ No

Most Recent __ Yes __ No

Describe any previously indicated anomalies at the failed pipe, and any subsequent pipe inspections (anomaly digs) and remedial

actions.

Pre-Failure Conditions and Actions _X_ N/A

Was there a known pre-failure condition requiring (13)

the operator to schedule evaluation and remediation?

__ Yes (describe below or on attachment) __ No

If there was such a known pre-failure condition, had the operator established and adhered to a required (13)

evaluation and

remediation schedule? Describe below or on attachment. __ Yes __ No __ N/A

Prior to the failure, had the operator performed the required (13)

actions to address the threats that are now known to be related to

the cause of this failure? __ Yes __ No __ N/A

List below or on an attachment such operator-identified threats, and operator actions taken prior to the accident.

Describe any previously indicated anomalies at the failed pipe, and any subsequent pipe inspections (anomaly digs) and remedial

actions.

Leak Survey History __X_ N/A

Leak Survey History (Trend Analysis, Leak Plots):

13 As required of Pipeline Integrity Management regulations in 16 NYCRR Part 255 and 49CFR Parts 192 and 195 14 MFL, TFI, UT, Combination, Geometry, etc.

15 ECDA, ICDA, SCCDA, “other technology,” etc.


Page 11 of 23


Pipeline Operation History _X__ N/A

Description (Repair or Leak Reports, Exposed Pipe Reports):

Did a Safety Related Condition Exist Prior to Failure? ___ Yes ___ No Reported? ___ Yes ___ No

Unaccounted For Gas:

Over & Short/Line Balance (24 hr., Weekly, Monthly/Trend):

Operator/Contractor Error _X__ N/A

Name: Job Function:

Title: Years of Experience:

Training (Type of Training, Background):

Was the person “Operator Qualified” as applicable to a precursor abnormal operating condition? ___Yes ___ No ___ N/A

Was qualified individual suspended from performing covered task ___ Yes ___ No ___ N/A

Type of Error (Inadvertent Operation of a Valve):

Procedures that are required:

Actions that were taken:

Pre-Job Meeting (Construction, Maintenance, Blow Down, Purging, Isolation):

Prevention of Accidental Ignition (Tag & Lock Out, Hot Weld Permit):

Procedures conducted for Accidental Ignition:

Was a Company Inspector on the Job? ___ Yes ___ No

Was an Inspection conducted on this portion of the job? ___ Yes ___ No

Additional Actions (Contributing factors may include number of hours at work prior to failure or time of day work being

conducted):

Training Procedures:

Operation Procedures:

Controller Activities:

Name Title Years

Experience

Hours on Duty

Prior to Failure Shift


Page 12 of 23


Operator/Contractor Error _X__ N/A

Alarm Parameters:

High/Low Pressure Shutdown:

Flow Rate:

Procedures for Clearing Alarms:

Type of Alarm:

Company Response Procedures for Abnormal Operations:

Over/Short Line Balance Procedures:

Frequency of Over/Short Line Balance:

Additional Actions:

Additional Actions Taken by the Operator ___N/A

Make notes regarding the emergency and Failure Investigation Procedures (Pressure reduction, Reinforced Squeeze Off, Clean

Up, Use of Evacuators, Line Purging, closing Additional Valves, Double Block and Bleed, Continue Operating downstream

Pumps):

1) The operator’s Safety Officer Kate Kamp did an internal post-event debriefing of involved individuals, and later, a review of

safety policy with its local personnel regarding purging procedures at the compressor station: If lightning appears to be

possible in the visual inspection of weather at the time of planned purging, purging will be postponed. An example of this

stand-down policy being implemented occurred since the original event and was exercised on the night of 8/14/2012 during

other type of routine maintenance. The purging was postponed to the morning of 8/15/2012 due to possible electrical storm

activity forecasted on 8/14.

2) Williams conducted a training session for local first responders to increase their knowledge of the Williams system. The

session was held on October 1, 2012 and included a tour of the facility, a review of the July 23, 2012 incident and an after-

action review with first responders and Williams personnel. The agencies that attended were: West Windsor Fire

Department, Windsor Fire Department, Coleville Fire Department, Broome County Hazmat, Broome County Fire

Investigation, Broome County Emergency Management Agency


Page 13 of 23


Photo Documentation (1)

Overall Area from best possible view. Pictures from the four points of the compass. Failed Component, Operator Action,

Damages in Area,

Address Markings, etc.

Photo

No.

Photo

No.

Description Description

1

Google Earth representation showing satellite

overhead geographic location reference photo of

compressor station (under construction in 2011). 31

2 Facing N/NE: Compressor station interior. (Unit #2 is

the compressor at about the center of the photo.) 32

3 Facing W: Rear of Dunbar Compressor Station

showing the exhaust piping configurations. 33

4 34

5 35

6 36

7 37

8 38

9 39

10 40

11 41

12 42

13 43

14 44

15 45

16 46

17 47

18 48

19 49

20 50

21 51

22 52

23 53

24 54

25 55

26 56

27 57

28 58

29 59

30 60

Camera Type: Digital.


Page 14 of 23


DUNBAR COMPRESSOR STATION (common compass view)

Patterson Rd

Blacksmith Rd

Millennium Pipeline

Dunbar Rd

Dunbar Station

Thompson Rd

Williams Pipeline

Approx.

0.8 Miles

Approx.

1.35 Miles

Photo #1: Overhead view: Basic location reference. This photo was taken during the 2011 construction phase of the compressor

station.


Page 15 of 23


Photo #2 (0764): Facing N/NE; interior of compressor station. Unit #2 Compressor is second unit from the extreme right (at

approximately the center of the photo, between the first two sets of traversing ceiling light banks from the right).


Page 16 of 23


Photo #3 (0774): Facing W: Rear of compressor station showing the main ESD vent/silencer stack (the singular “fat” stack)

through which all venting gas is exhausted. Unit #2 Compressor is (represented by) the second fan from the left.


Page 17 of 23


Additional Information Sources

Agency Name Title Phone Number

Police: (Contacted through EMA)

Fire Dept.: Jerry Launt Fire Chief, West Windsor

Fire Company 607 343-2176

State Agency: Tom Elter Environmental Engineer,

NYS-DEC 315 426-7470

Broome County

Emergency

Management

Agency

Brett Chellis Director, Broome County

EMA 607 778-1208


Page 18 of 23


Persons Interviewed

Name: Curtis Stevens (no longer

employed by Williams) Title: (then-) operations supervisor Phone Number: 903 754-7661

Interviewed by: Kris Harsh Others present: N/A (interview was by phone)

Date Interview: 7/23/2012

Name: Dave Thompson Title: Supervisor of North Region

Operations Phone Number: 570 468-7042

Interviewed by: Kris Harsh Others present: Anthony Decesaris


Name: Anthony Decesaris Title: EHS Specialist- Regulatory

Compliance Phone Number: 570 205-9310

Interviewed by: Kris Harsh Others present: Dave Thompson (Williams region operations supervisor)


Name: Title: Phone Number:

Interviewed by: Others present:

Date Interview:



Date Interview:


Interviewed by: Others present :

Date Interview:



Date Interview:



Date Interview:



Date Interview:



Date Interview:



Date Interview:



Date Interview:


Page 19 of 23


Event Log

Sequence of events prior, during, and after the incident by time. (Consider the events of all parties involved in the incident, Fire

Department and Police reports, Operator Logs and other government agencies.)

Time / Date Event

7/23/2012:

5:00 PM 5 individuals (Williams Midstream: Mike Considine, Dominic Ruggiero) and (S2W Contractor: Dan Will,

Mike Melton, Mike Fitzsimmons) were working at the Williams Dunbar Compressor Station to bring Unit 2

compressor back on-line after performing routine recommended maintenance on the unit.

5:30 PM Lightning strikes near the exterior main vent stack of the compressor building, lighting off the residual gas

purging through it from Unit 2 compressor.

5:31 PM All 5 personnel saw the flame at the stack after seeing a distinctive orange glow through the window from

their work location inside. Mike Considine, the Williams crew leader, engaged the ESD to shut in the facility.

The resulting purge of the remainder of the station gas increased the venting fire plume to approximately 450

feet.

5:47 PM Emergency responders were called by residents in the area, concerned by the sound and the resulting fire

plume they saw.

5:54 PM Fire department and State Police arrived on-scene and evacuation of nearby residents commences as a

precaution. (Williams estimates that the residents were away from their homes for approximately 20 minutes.

5:55 PM Venting stack flame diminishes to only minor residual flame.

6:00 PM The 5 compressor station workers check in/reported to the emergency medical technician station for routine

evaluation. (No notable abnormal conditions of the personnel were reported by the operator to DPS staff).

7:00 PM (approx) Residents allowed to return to their homes.

7:00 PM Flame at main vent stack extinguishes.

7:03 PM Williams Midstream notifies NYS-DEC of the event.

8:45 PM (approx) NYS-DPS Syracuse Region supervisor Brett Mahan was notified by his supervisor of the compressor station

event.

9:00 PM Brett Mahan notified NYS-DPS Binghamton area NYS-DPS inspector Kris Harsh of the event and requested

Harsh to verify the event particulars by contacting appropriate Williams’ supervision.

9:07 PM Kris Harsh called Curtis Stevens, who (at that time) was the operator’s lead contact person Harsh knew of.

Stevens, who was on scene, relayed the unfolding of events (accurate to what is presented in this timeline).

9:20 PM Kris Harsh reported the results of the Stevens interview to Brett Mahan.

8/15/2012:

9:30 AM Kris Harsh went to the Williams field office at 86 Patterson Road, Town of Windsor, which is about 0.60 mile

from the Williams Dunbar Compressor Station. An interview with Williams personnel Tony Decesaris and

Dave Thompson, took place regarding the incident. The contents of this incident report form was the meeting

agenda. The visit also included a look at the compressor station and its associated property.


Page 20 of 23


Event Log

Sequence of events prior, during, and after the incident by time. (Consider the events of all parties involved in the incident, Fire

Department and Police reports, Operator Logs and other government agencies.)

Investigation Contact Log

Time Date Name Description

9:00 PM 7/23/2012 Brett Mahan

NYS-DPS Supervisor informed (Kris Harsh) of initial

notification of a reported fire incident having occurred at the

Williams Midstream Dunbar Compressor Station in the Town

of Windsor.

9:07PM 7/23/2012 Curtis Stevens

Kris Harsh called Mr. Stevens to ascertain status and scope of

occurring incident. The status at this time was the compressor

station and pipeline was resuming pressure build-up to

reinitiate transport of gas onto the Millennium Pipeline. No

failures, damages or injuries had occurred and the ESD had

performed as designed.

9:20PM 7/23/2012 Brett Mahan Kris Harsh reports results of phone interview with Curtis

Stevens.

9:30AM 8/15/2012 Anthony Decesaris Interview and review of incident. Site visit to compressor

station.

9:30 AM 8/15/2012 Dave Thompson Interview & review of incident; system information.

1:00 PM 9/19/2012 West Windsor Fire Chief Jerry Launt Brief phone call confirming fire department notification and

dispatch time and estimated number of citizen evacuees.


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Investigation Contact Log

Time Date Name Description


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Failure Investigation Documentation Log

Appendix Number Documentation Description Date Received

None, other than attachments and photos by Investigator Harsh. 8/15/2012


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Site Description Provide a sketch of the area including distances from roads, houses, stress inducing factors, pipe configurations, etc. Bar Hole Test Survey Plot

should be outlined with concentrations at test points. Photos should be taken from all angles with each photo documented. Additional areas

may be needed in any area of this guideline. [See Photo Section.]

NYS DPS Incident Investigaton 7/23/12 Lightning Strike, Williams Dunbar Compressor, Windsor NY

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Transcript of NYS DPS Incident Investigaton 7/23/12 Lightning Strike, Williams Dunbar Compressor, Windsor NY