Citizens Gas Uncontrolled Well Head Leak

Citizens Gas Uncontrolled Well Head Leak

April 18, 2017 Incident 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 process 8:03 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 holders Round Table discussion lead by IC and Haz- Mat Specialist Responsible party (Citizen gas) provided updates on control methods All 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, Substation 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 Dekatherm 83,000,000 cubic feet released 24,319,092 Energy converted to Kilowatt hours 12,160 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. Woodall Fire Chief Fairplay Grant Fire Protection Territory Roger Axe Greene County Emergency Management Stan Capobianco Indiana State Fire Marshal Office