Posted 12/11/2010 11:41 (#1479856) Subject: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Sorry I don't know much for details...Yesterday around 5pm. There is a pair of 8 inch lines that run between Trimont and Sherburn, MN I was told around 12,000 lbs of pressure? Guy plowing in line hit one of them, not sure if contractor or farmer owned. Gas was shooting out of boot and coming out of trench for about 40 foot, huge cloud of gas. Couple mile radius was evacuated, 12 or so farm houses. Sounds like it could be a couple of days before they can return. Line was shut down, I guess they need to burn off what is in line...then repair? This weather probably isn't helping in the progress.
Posted 12/11/2010 11:44 (#1479863 - in reply to #1479856) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Central Iowa
I hope the plow operators were able to get clear. I know there have been cases where there was an immediate explosion. This isn't going to be pretty for them or their insurance company, but hopefully they are alive. I suppose there is a lesson to be learned here.......
Posted 12/11/2010 12:38 (#1479999 - in reply to #1479863) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
SW Iowa
redline - 12/11/2010 11:44
This isn't going to be pretty for them or their insurance company, but hopefully they are alive. I suppose there is a lesson to be learned here.......
Depends on if One Call was called, and if so, if it was marked correctly.
Posted 12/11/2010 12:09 (#1479922 - in reply to #1479876) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Yup, two different accidents. Everyone OK in LP truck deal. Not sure on gas line. Hwy 4 still closed, not that anybody is out today anyway. Fire dept from both Trimont and Sherburn along with Sheriff dept were out all night keeping vehicles out of the area.
Posted 12/11/2010 12:20 (#1479943 - in reply to #1479934) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
And those guys get serious about gas lines. I called 811 when I put in my new septic system. Got a call from the gas line people. There is a line or two running through the field behind me, several hundred yards away from where I was going to put my leech field. They came out anyway just to check. On the flip side, I have seen pictures here this fall of lines burried several feet deep that are now darn near exposed.
AaronSEIA
Posted 12/11/2010 12:50 (#1480018 - in reply to #1479962) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
New Ulm, MN
ask Bernie at Laffyette exavating about fibor obtic lines, they were all marked by winthrop and they dug thru em. took out almost all Cell service in out area. They wanted to know why he did not call right away. Bernie said COUSE MY @#$%ING CEL PHONE DIDNT WORK.
Posted 12/11/2010 12:31 (#1479981 - in reply to #1479949) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
I have a pipeline running through on farm in southwest Mn and they monitor it for dept etc. A couple of years ago they put more dirt over a few areas where it was getting too close to the top of the ground. It is not that deep in the ground maybe only a couple of feet at most. This line I think does not do natural gas only petroleum.
Posted 12/11/2010 19:54 (#1480687 - in reply to #1480050) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
East Central Ia
We have some around here less than 20'' I had a bunch of tile put in a farm a few years ago and the pipeline guy checked a couple spots while I was there at 18''. He said they have a farm a few miles down the road from me that its less than 12''. He wasn't sure what they were going to do with that. Its a pita... almost all our acres are within 1 mile north and south, and about an 8-10 mile stretch east to west... and yep the pipeline goes right along through almost every one of our fields. :(
Posted 12/11/2010 13:48 (#1480130 - in reply to #1479943) Subject: depth of cover survey
I have an older LP line running thru a field. I was notified the pipeline company was doing a depth of cover survey. Called the company doing the survey to notify me when they were crossing the field. I was shocked at how little cover there was in places, especially in the right of way of the nearby road. Guy doing the survey said they find shallow lines all the time.
Posted 12/11/2010 14:11 (#1480177 - in reply to #1479934) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
NC Iowa
i tried all day last fall to get through to 811. it must have been a busy day for people wanting to get digging done. waited on hold long time. tried back and same thing. never got them called, and then the weather turned. bet i could get through today. now i will wait till spring.
Posted 12/11/2010 12:30 (#1479978 - in reply to #1479856) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Central Il Morton
They were in their right mind. Most gas lines only have 4' of cover when new. After 30 years they only have 1' in some areas.
Fiber cables are expensive gas lines can kill you.
Posted 12/11/2010 12:43 (#1480012 - in reply to #1479978) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Pointrow, just asking because I don't know. Does the pipeline come up or are you saying we are losing 3' of dirt in 30 years? If thats the case were gonna be in trouble soon. In our area there are some that have been measured at only 17" deep.
Posted 12/11/2010 15:32 (#1480302 - in reply to #1480012) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Central Il Morton
Evan flat ground erodes by water or wind. You ever looked at a old fence row that hasn't been plowed out. It can be 18" higher than the tilled surface even on flat ground.
Posted 12/11/2010 21:29 (#1480842 - in reply to #1480302) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
E.Central MN
I would think frost heaving could be a factor for pipelines floating closer to the surface than they were originally. I wish the pipelines here would come thru and do depth surveys and let us know the results. It seems like dirt is always settling where a pipeline runs thru a meadow of ours.
Posted 12/11/2010 13:30 (#1480095 - in reply to #1479978) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Near-north Ontario, French River
I ask this out of curiosity , not to be a prick, but if it was buried four feet deep thirty years ago, and now only has one foot of cover, where did the missing three feet of cover go?? Erosion? Physically removed for some reason???
Posted 12/11/2010 14:02 (#1480155 - in reply to #1480095) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Chilliwack BC
I have heard that vibration of the line, being at the psi it is from the compressors, can cause it to "shake" up slowly. Our next door neighbor farmed a few miles from here previously and said that the gas line had less than 2 feet of cover, and was originally quite a bit deeper. I have also heard of the gas company digging it up and lowering it and hanging concrete weights off it to keep it anchored. The line I am talking about is 30+" in diameter. We have no gas lines on our property.
Posted 12/11/2010 12:43 (#1480011 - in reply to #1479856) Subject: RE: Tile plow hit natural gas line
Central Mo
Since gas was coming out of the trench I assume it didn't go boom? Sure hope not. They should make everyone that buys a tile plow watch one of the contractor videos showing the melted dozer and pick up.
There's even some photos on here showing houses a quarter mile away from a ruptured line in VA being burned to the ground.
Posted 12/11/2010 12:53 (#1480022 - in reply to #1480011) Subject: Re: Tile plow hit natural gas line
New Ulm, MN
so did the Deisel enigne suck the fumes and run away?
We got a god damned pipline shoved thru our feild a few years back so Hutch could have a second option on gas. as far as i know it empty right now.
Posted 12/11/2010 13:09 (#1480055 - in reply to #1480011) Subject: RE: Tile plow hit natural gas line
cedar rapids, ia.
Standard only calls for 30" of cover, most are deeper. Got a 13" that crosses the farm considered high pressue runs 720 psi and was buried 5' to the top of the pipe. If they hit it without a one call location, the contractor and owner are liable.
Posted 12/11/2010 13:57 (#1480146 - in reply to #1480085) Subject: RE: Tile plow hit natural gas line
West Union, IOWA FLOLO Farm 52175
One got hit about a 1/4 mile north of my place a few yrs back, they lucked out as they didn't have enough power/traction to pull through......and froze the point right in the line.
They scary part is soon afterwards the contractor went and got a Bigger plow..... personally I'd stay with the little one?
Tile plow hit natural gas line
