3 dead after Texas gas blast. At least 10 missing after giant fire at natural gas pipeline

Msnbc ^ | june 7, 2010 | Msnbc

[dljordan]

“First we had a coal blast, then a oil rig, now this...something is going on.”

Yes, God is punishing the evil Americans for their dependence on fossil fuel. Either that or we’re being manipulated AGAIN.

[GeronL]

More accuracy in media today. lol.

[musicman]

"Very interesting, we've had a coal mine cave in, an oil rig explosion, and now a natural gas pipeline explosion..."

IMHO, all that's needed for the Reichstag Fire Cap&Tax Trifecta plus one, is an explosion or fire in one of these (filled to the brim with corn of course):

[B4Ranch]

My favorite wife and I discussed this and our conclusion is that companies may be laying off the experienced workers and retaining the lower cost younger ones.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

“a utility crew didn’t do a proper locate and bored into a 36” gas pipeline.”
~~~
I will lay the blame on the Boss of this job,,,

It is up to him to make sure locates are called in and

that the crew digs up these lines by HAND...

[pandoraou812]

I wouldn’t doubt it.

[TheZMan]

I sense someone from the industry. It’s not often people use the term ROW :)

[deport]

Yep spent sometime in the electric utility side.

[deport]

Here are a couple of photos showing the pipeline after the blast...

Other Photos here

[smokingfrog]

[Danae]

How often do these things just happen? There has to be a statistic somewhere. Is the press making it seem like its somehow unusual?
Happening more often, or REPORTED more often?

That is something I would like to know.

[crusty old prospector]

Barnett Shale gas.

[backwoods-engineer]

First we had a coal blast, then a oil rig, now this...something is going on.

First time is coincidence; the second is ill fortune, and the third, enemy action.

[PA Engineer]

Someone screwed up big time. This was a transmission line that necessitated a ROW study. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a GPS layout for the footings.



I have spent half of my career in this area on both pipeline and power line. This was a huge error.

[vigilante2]

Who told them to dig there?

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Who told them to dig there?
~~~
The plans,,,

Somebody didn’t call for locates or get the prints from

the gas company or the boss of that job did not make

sure of the mark outs,,,

Maybe a little of both...

[esarlls3]

See photo 8 from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram photo collection you linked:

This looks like the pipeline may have been outside of the mowed ROW.

[Rightly Biased]

bttt

[deport]

This looks like the pipeline may have been outside of the mowed ROW.

---

The photo would certainly give that impression or at the least be on the very edge of the mowed portion. Apparently based upon the photo the Transmission line was crossing the pipeline ROW rather than running in parallel with it. That would raise the question if the utility company even had a locate since they were going to be outside the supposed pipeline ROW with their structure.

[deport]

Who told them to dig there?

---

That will be the money question when all is said and done.