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Pipe pressure before gas explosions was 12 times too high
The pressure in natural gas pipelines prior to a series of explosions and fires in Massachusetts last week was 12 times higher than it should have been, according to a letter from the state's U.S. senators to executives of the utility in charge of the pipelines.
Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey sent the letter Monday seeking answers about the explosions from the heads of Columbia Gas, the company that serves the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, and NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas.
"The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has reported that the pressure in the Columbia Gas system should have been around 0.5 pounds per square inch (PSI), but readings in the area reached at least 6 PSI — twelve times higher than the system was intended to hold," the letter said.
The pressure spike registered in a Columbia Gas control room in Ohio, the senators said in the letter, which requests a reply by Wednesday.
See also: Columbia Gas pledges $10M toward relief efforts in Lawrence, Andover, North Andover
Previously: 60-80 Homes Burn; Gas Line "Incident" in Northern Massachusetts
(Score: 3, Interesting) by RS3 on Tuesday September 18 2018, @11:36PM (4 children)
Yes, even more than decades: https://www.apga.org/apgamainsite/aboutus/facts/history-of-natural-gas [apga.org]
Around 1785 the British were using it.
Around 1816 Baltimore, MD, USA, used piped gas to light streets and homes.
Around 1836 Philadelphia, PA, USA started piping it into streetlights and homes.
So yes, it's been in use for a while and this was worked out long ago. As I comment further down, there should be pressure regulators at each building, and 60 PSI street pressure at regulator inlet is okay, so there's more to this story...
(Score: 2) by NewNic on Tuesday September 18 2018, @11:46PM (3 children)
That depends on your definition of "Natural Gas"
"Around 1785, the British used natural gas produced from coal to light houses and streets."
I remember when the UK converted from "coal gas" to "natural gas". When did the definition of "natural gas" change to include gas produced form coal?
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday September 19 2018, @12:05AM (2 children)
I don't know, I gave you a link. Personally I don't like the vague terms, but I understand the history / legacy.
The point of my post was to say that people have been piping some kind of flammable gas into buildings not just for decades, but more than 200 years, so whatever caused this huge disaster hasn't been revealed yet.
(Score: 2) by NewNic on Wednesday September 19 2018, @06:44PM (1 child)
OK, your point was made about the infrastructure. I was just nit-picking.
The legacy of coal gas (also known as town gas) can still be seen in the UK, in the form of abandoned gas holders, such as this one:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Gasometer_in_East_London.jpg [wikimedia.org]
They were also known as "gasometers". The tank expanded and contracted as it was filled and emptied. The pressure must have been quite low.
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday September 19 2018, @07:30PM
Nit-picking implies that I have nits. Nit-hunting I'll grant you, but you'll come up empty. :-}
Thank you for that link and pic. Wow, I don't know if I'm more intrigued or scared! Surely there were some mishaps?
Stateside, "natural gas" is pretty much methane and odor added. "Coal gas" has hydrogen, CO, and other stuff with the methane, but I know you know that. I guess the good thing is: if you have a coal gas leak in your house, you'll die of CO before you're burned up.
A somewhat interesting (to me anyway) item, reminiscent of the doomed Mars Climate Orbiter, is that I've always heard (common misconception) that gas pressure inside of homes is 4 PSI. Turns out, it's supposed to be 4 ounces per square inch. I've never measured it, certainly never tried to set it.