The high-pressure natural gas line release in Overton County Wednesday flipped a D6 bulldozer onto its side and threw debris some 300 feet.
Overton County EMA’s Chris Massiongale said a bulldozer operator or an object he was pushing apparently contacted an existing line carrying about 800 pounds of pressure.
“In dealing with something like this, it’s, you know, it’s a big event, but we are so grateful and we are so fortunate that there was no ignition,” Massiongale said. “If there had been, you know, we’d be having a totally different discussion and conversation.”
Massiongale said the sudden pressure release created a crater about three to four feet deep and roughly 12 feet in circumference. The bulldozer operator suffered the most significant injuries among those evaluated at the scene.
“He had several scrapes and bruises and what not, but he did refuse transport, and did not end up going to the hospital,” Massiongale said.
Massiongale said the operator was wearing a seat belt, which helped keep him in the seat when the bulldozer overturned. All workers at the site were accounted for, and none of the 21 people evaluated by EMS required transportation to a hospital.
An automatic monitoring system detected the pressure loss and shut valves on both sides of the break. Massiongale said that limited the release to the natural gas remaining in the isolated section of pipeline.
“We were extremely fortunate that that gas line was equipped with those safety features to shut it off before and after the break point,” Massiongale said. “Because if not, then we would have had gas escaping, natural gas escaping at 800 pounds pressure and you can imagine how quickly that would have filled up.”
Massiongale said responders initially detected only a small amount of natural gas. Wind helped dissipate what remained, and crews were receiving zero readings before the scene was cleared and the road reopened.
Overton County emergency agencies received assistance from Cumberland, Putnam and Clay Counties, as well as the cities of Crossville and Cookeville. TBI, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency personnel also responded.
Massiongale said TBI Bomb and Arson personnel conducted an investigation Wednesday, but he had not received their report as of Thursday. He said the damaged line remains shut down with no gas escaping and no current danger to the public.
“There is no gas on that line right now,” Massiongale said. “There’s nothing escaping. There’s no danger to anybody right now. That line is shut down.”
Massiongale said the pipeline will have to be repaired, but work will not resume until the necessary safety inspections are completed. He said he does not expect crews to return to work until next week.