PIPELINE PROBLEMS Natural Gas Line Failures Happening All Across The U.S.
Reported by: Kennie Bass
Videographer: Matt Durrett
Web Producer: Kennie Bass
Also Contributing: Bob Aaron, Brad Rice
Reported: Dec. 12, 2012 5:56 PM EST
Updated: Dec. 12, 2012 6:15 PM EST
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Sissonville
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
As National Transportation Safety Board investigators comb through the Sissonville site looking for clues to the cause of the natural gas pipeline explosion, previous NTSB findings about accidents over the past decade reveal three causes of pipeline failure which pop up repeatedly. External corrosion, seam weld failure and cracks in wrinkle bends are the most common problems.
"As you look down into the crater there is a 20 foot, seven-inch gap in the pipe," Robert Sumwalt, a board member with the National Transportation Safety Board said.
The shocking suddenness of the Sissonville disaster could lead you to believe that these types of incidents are fairly rare. However, a study of similar occurrences shows they happen more often than you might think.
Since August 2002, when a natural gas pipeline exploded on Poca River Road, there have been 47 similar events across the country. 17 people died, dozens more were injured and several homes were destroyed. Although experts generally agree moving natural gas by pipeline is safer than by highway, barge or rail, things can still go wrong.
"We are aware that there have been some prior events and we're going to try and see if there's any relationship between this event and prior events," Sumwalt said.
The state Public Service Commission says natural gas companies are responsible for maintaining their pipelines.
"We go out to do a compliance audit looking at the company's safety records, their operational and maintenance records. We'll do valve check. We will make sure that they're running tests in the field that they say they are," Susan Small, with the West Virginia Public Service Commission said.
Experts say it's easy to see why pipelines are failing. More than half of the nation's pipelines have been in service for more than 50 years.
WVU gets gifts to support education lab May 25, 2013 3:05 PM EDT About $500,000 in private gifts is helping to support science, technology, engineering and math education programs at West Virginia University.
Report: New controversy at scandal-scarred Rutgers May 26, 2013 1:35 AM EDT The woman hired to clean up Rutgers' scandal-scarred athletic program quit as Tennessee's women's volleyball coach 16 years ago after her players submitted a letter complaining she ruled through humiliation, fear and emotional abuse, The Star-Ledger reported Saturday night on its website.
Sheriff: 12 hurt in Ohio ride derailment May 25, 2013 7:06 PM EDT Authorities say a dozen people with minor injuries sustained minor injuries when a train ride at an eastern Ohio farm attraction went off the rails.
Kennie Bass
