Pipeline explosion damages home, greenhouse
Friday, June 7, 2019
The Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement, a division of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, is continuing to investigate a pipeline explosion that occurred in Clarion County on May 28, according to the Farm and Dairy.
The explosion damaged a home and a greenhouse along Pipe Run Road in Mayport and sent one person to the hospital.
In their preliminary investigation, pipeline safety engineers have identified three pipelines near the site — two natural gas transmission lines operated by TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) and a natural gas line that supplies the house and greenhouse, which is operated by Empire Energy. The Empire Energy line and one of the TC Energy lines have been placed out of service.
The pipeline safety engineers are working to determine whether natural gas service was involved in the incident and whether there were any violations of state or federal pipeline safety regulations.
Learn more: Farm and Dairy > Explosion damages home and greenhouse
Leave a Comment
Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
Additional Shale Maps
Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.