Citizens Gas Uncontrolled Well Head Leak

Incident

• April 18, 2017

• 7:25 p.m. Call made to Greene County Sheriff Department reference to well head leak

• 7:28 p.m. SwitzCity Fire Department toned out

• 7:36 p.m. First SCFD unit arrived on scene

• Command established in parking lot of Pioneer Seed Company

Command Post

Incident

• First meeting with Citizens Gas Technicians

• Explained that a well head had blown out and could not be controlled

• General repair work to the well had failed• A plug to control the release of gas blew

out under pressure

Incident Command

• Parking lot – tailgate command (IC)– Type 5 incident

• Requested REMC• Requested EMA

– In turn brought Commissioner– Weather support– Sheriff

Incident

• Order a ½ mile evacuation in all directions based on the ERG guide page 115 for a large leak of Methane gas

• This was a house to house process8:03 p.m. evacuation completed by Sheriff Deputies (38 minutes)

Incident Command

• EMA requested State assistance• 7:55 p.m. Fire Marshal - Haz Mat

Specialist and IDHS Coordinator 7

• Finding Structural Command Post• Meeting with Citizens Gas workers• Long term incident (Type 4)

Command Post

Incident

• Citizens Gas has multiple underground caverns that store natural gas in Greene County

• There are approximately 160 wellheads in this gas field

• Some wells are located close to residential structures

Incident

• Located along State Road 67• Rail line along State Road 67• Pioneer Grain Processing Facility • REMC Sub-station• Peaking Power Plant ( peak demand)

Evacuation Distance

5 “ casing 460 psi

Power Grid

Sub-Station / Peaking Plant

Duke Energy

Players

• Switz City VFD • Worthington VFD• Greene County EMA office• Greene County Commissioner• Greene County Sheriff Office• Worthington Police Department• Indiana State Fire Marshal office

Players continued

• Indiana State Police• Citizens Gas• Midwest Gas Company• Hoosier Energy• UDWI/REMC• Duke Energy• Indiana Department of Transportation

Players continued

• Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission• White River Valley School District• Indiana Southern Railroad• Pioneer seed • FAA• Indiana Department Environmental

Management• Boots and Coots Well control (Red Adair)

Operations Center

Scheduled briefings every 2 hours for stake holdersRound Table discussion lead by IC and Haz-Mat Specialist Responsible party (Citizen gas) provided updates on control methodsAll stake holders had to agree on the potential outcome

Issues

• Lack of Air Monitoring for Methane and H2S

• News Media and information (Amber Kent)• High tension power lines X area, Sub-

station and Peak Plant• Disruption of electric service• Closing of roads (State and County)

Issues

• Accountability of responders and industry personnel

• Maintaining fire fighting personnel on scene (VFD)

• Command Post evacuation procedures• Railroad Shut Down• School bus routes

Issues

• Industry understanding of ICS• Safety and Site safety plan• Ignition control• A gas release to a fire incident• Cost to the County (Jerry Sears)• Evacuation time frame• Security of evacuated area

Issues

• Air Space control (FAA)• Environmental impact (IDEM)• Regulatory concerns (IURC)• Weather• Evacuated residents medical needs

(meds)

Real Life happens

0800 April 19, 2017- Transfer of Command

0900 - Incoming IC parent has heart attack

1000 – Transfer of command to State Fire Marshal Specialist

1200 – Transfer of command to Chief Bryan Woodall of Switz City F.D.

1400 – Haz-Mat specialist released

1800 – Incident terminated

Lessons Learned

• Need a scribe early in the incident• Training Staff for IC• Help through mutual aid• Securing Evacuated homes

• Main Breaker• Gas meters• Home Generators• Document homeowners information

Lessons Learned

• Rotation of command post positions• Rotation of field staff• Controlling information released• Understanding the supporting role

(responders) and (IC)

Cost / Loss

83,000 Dekatherms or 1 % released in 24 hours 1000 cubic feet per Dekatherm83,000,000 cubic feet released24,319,092 Energy converted to Kilowatt hours12,160 homes @ 2000 KwH for one month

Cost / Loss

• Methane gas lost worth $240,000.00• Does not include personnel, equipment,

repair costs and legal costs

Questions ?

Thank You

Bryan K. WoodallFire Chief

Fairplay Grant Fire Protection TerritoryRoger Axe

Greene County Emergency ManagementStan Capobianco

Indiana State Fire Marshal Office