Customers overran Valley gas stations Wednesday night after a series of rumors inaccurately reported a rupture in the state's gasoline pipeline.
Cars wrapped around dozens of gas stations, with worried customers topping off tanks in fear of a gasoline shortage similar to one that hit the state in August. The false reports, generated by an undetermined source, prompted Gov. Janet Napolitano's office to make a statement in an effort to quell the panic.
From PhxNews.com
A Kinder Morgan pipe back east has blockage!
Posted by Hunter's Posting on Thursday January 8, 2004 at
Link to story:
http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2004/01/06/news/news2.txt Pipe blockage cuts some of gas supply
A blocked tapping connection in an underground pipeline cut part of the natural gas supply to areas of downtown Gillette on Monday -- one of the coldest days of the winter.
Kinder Morgan workers located the problem and cleared the obstruction, restoring pressure at about 4:15 p.m., said Norm Long, business relations representative.
The company also brought in crews from other towns to help clear the pipes.
The problem affected downtown and areas of west Gillette beginning at about 6 a.m. Monday. Since two pipelines feed gas to the area, the obstruction blocked only part of its supply.
But the drop in pressure made it hard to keep many furnaces running in the near-zero and sub-zero temperatures.
Monday's high temperature of 1 below zero set a record for the coldest daytime high for Jan. 5, said local weather observer Doug Rigsby. The previous record was 5 degrees in 1993.
Sunday's low was 17 below and Monday's low was 14 below, Rigsby said.
A pipeline obstruction is unusual, but "due to the cold weather, it showed up yesterday," Long said.
Kinder Morgan workers went door-to-door after pressure had been restored and re-lit appliances, such as furnaces and water heaters, in 36 homes.
"In all cases of these 36, either the water heater was on and the furnace wasn't, or the furnace was on and the water heater wasn't," Long said.
Workers finished their home checks at about 9:15 p.m.
The drop did affect some local businesses.
Casa Del Rey closed for lunch Monday because the restaurant did not have enough pressure for heat, said employee Angela Thompson.
"We just didn't want to inconvenience our customers. We're fine now. Come have lunch," she said this morning.
The restaurant opened at about 2:30 p.m.
Kinder Morgan will do more follow-ups today, Long said. In most cases, people cooperated with workers and helped to ease through the process of getting everything back up and running.
Customers having problems with their gas supply can call the Kinder Morgan call center at (800) 563-0012.
By KRISTY GRAY
News-Record Writer
