Featured Story-Pipeline crater
Published 12:00 am Friday, November 25, 2011
Utility officials found a huge crater at the site of the pipeline rupture that sent flames billowing into Monday night’s sky. Photo courtesy George P. Cossar of Entergy
“The pipeline “segment” that experienced the failure last night has been isolated and is not operating,” El Paso Corporation Richard Wheatley stated in an e-mail late Tuesday.
“A second pipeline segment was taken out of service as a precaution,” he added.
El Paso Corporation is the parent company of Tennessee Gas Pipeline.
“The two pipeline segments that are not operating extend from Mainline Valve 63 to Mainline Valve 64 on two of the four pipelines,” the pipeline company spokesman continued. “We continue to serve our customers by using the two remaining pipelines that traverse Panola County, and we are by-passing the compressor station (63) near Batesville, flowing gas, but not using the compressor station itself.”
Fire subsided about 11:30 pm last night and was totally out by 2 am.
“We want to thank the residents for their cooperation and apologize for any inconvenience and disruption,” Wheatley said. “We also thank emergency responders and county officials for their cooperation, assistance, and professionalism.”
The pipeline spokesman said that the company has no timeline on completion of the investigation into the cause of the pipe rupture and fire. “On the order of months, not weeks, typically,” Wheatley said.
Pipeline investigating cause of rupture, fire
By John Howell
Investigators from Tennessee Gas Pipeline planned to visit on Tuesday the site of pipeline rupture that led to the huge Monday night fire that was visible from as far away as Oxford.
Tennessee Gas spokesman Richard Wheatley said investigators would attempt to determine, “weather permitting,” the cause of the natural gas release.
Panola County Road Manager Lygunnah Bean, who lives on George Thomas Lane near the site, on Monday night said he heard the escaping gas about 8:30 p.m. “roaring real loud like a train.” Bean said that he immediately began calling Tennessee Gas as well as Panola County Emergency Management coordinator Daniel Cole.
About the same time, the pumping station operator observed a significant change in gas pressure and activated the company’s emergency response plan, Wheatley said. Within a few minutes, the escaping gas ignited, sending flames several hundred feet into the dark night sky, attracting hundreds of spectators and mobilizing fire and law enforcement personnel from through the county.
Tennessee Gas dispatched personnel to isolate the affected area of pipe.
There was little that fire and law enforcement personnel could do except to evacuate nearby residents and control the volume of traffic. Evacuees included Bean’s neighbors on George Thomas Lane and residents of nearby Macedonia and Seven Roads. Wheatley said that about 20 homes were affected. No injuries have been reported.
About 9:25 p.m. firemen received word from Tennessee Gas personnel that cutoff valves had been closed to shut off the supply of gas feeding through the pipeline. The gas company officials said that it might take two hours for flames to consume the gas still in the pipes. Initially, the flames continued to roar. From Macedonia Road the roar of escaping gas could easily be heard, but the flames were distant enough so that no heat was felt.
At first the flames did not appear to respond to the dwindling supply of gas, but by 9:55 p.m. the flames were subsiding.
By 10:20, Curtis-Locke Station Fire Chief Dwayne Vest released fire personnel and equipment from the Batesville and Red Hill Departments. At 10:25, the Curtis-Locke Station firemen also prepared to leave.
Panola County Sheriff Otis Griffin ordered that deputies stand watch on Macedonia and Seven Roads to prevent through traffic during the night.
Tennessee Gas spokesman Wheatley said that families were allowed to return home during the night. Provisions for anyone apprehensive about returning home were made at local motels, Wheatley said. The Macedonia Community Center is being used by Tennessee Gas representatives who are interviewing area residents about assistance needed following the evacuation, he added.
Entergy spokesman George P. Cossar said Tuesday morning that utility employees are at the site assessing damage to the Batesville-Marks 115 KV line damaged by the flames from Monday night’s fire.
“At this time we plan on replacing structures 66 and 67 due to fire damage they received,” Cossar said, referring to the wooden poles, one of which could be seen burning Monday night and the other smoldering.
“From the ground, the conductor does not appear to be damaged,” Cossar continued. “However, it is coated with mud from the explosion so we may find additional damage as the rain removes the debris and we are able to access the conductor with a bucket truck.
“We are currently in the process of staging materials and equipment to the location,” the Entergy spokesman said. “The estimated return to service at this point is late on November 23 if all goes well. No customers are out due to the explosion,” Cossar added.
The fire and gas line rupture also had no noticeable impact on natural gas customers, Wheatley said. The gas pipeline company operates four pipelines, two of which were shut down due to the fire. Wheatley said. Tennessee Gas has contacted the City of Senatobia, which also serves the City of Sardis and the Town of Como, to assure them that the system has adequate pressure to supply municipal needs.
