Natural Gas Leaks Are No Laughing Matter

Natural gas is a combustible fossil fuel from the remains of plants, animals and microorganisms that lived millions of years ago. It is colorless, odorless and shapeless in its purest form. It is a high energy low emission source of fuel. Natural gas is a combustible mixture of hydrocarbon gases. It is formed primarily of methane, and can also include ethane, propane, butane and pentane. Natural gas in the most pure form is composed of mostly methane.

Around 500 B.C the Chinese harvested natural gas flame sources from deep in the earth using bamboo pipes, to transport the gas where it was used to boil sea water and remove salt, producing drinkable water. Britain was the first county to commercialize the use of natural gas.

Natural Gas Facts:

The 'rotten egg' smell is mercaptan which is added to gas for detection

Carbon Monoxide is a dangerous by-product of fuel combustion that is odorless


FACT: High pressure lines run through many neighborhoods as well as other gas lines that deliver natural gas to homes. Due to Homeland Security concerns the pipeline maps are not available to the general public. Update! See links below under 'Latest News' for access to segments of major PG&E pipelines.

Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com

September 21, 2010
PG&E agrees to release maps of major gas line segments and a list of problem segments. In order to restore public trust in the safety of it's gas lines PG&E has published information on their website for consumer access.

Click here for information on LA Times Story

Click here for public access to PG&E gas transmission lines.

September 15, 2010
The latest news is stating that it took PG&E (3) three hours to shut off the gas to the area. The company claimed it was too dangerous for their employees. While others state the manual emergency shut off valves are located (1) mile away from the site of the blast. There were no auto shut off valves installed on this older pipeline.

The device called a 'pig' that inspects gas pipeline to detect problems, could not be used on this particular pipeline prior to the blast due to curves in the pipeline.

Another missing victim is found
The body of 81 year old Elizabeth Torres has been found outside her home. Three persons are still missing.

PG& E Gas Line Disaster May Be Due To Their Repair Delay
Reports surfacing that in 2007 PG&E charged customers a rate hike to repair sections of the failed gas line. The work never was done as scheduled for 2009. And inspection in 2009 led the utility to put off the repairs until 2013. A possibly deadly mistake. PG&E then asked the PUC for another $5M rate hike. A utility watchdog claims that PG&E gave executives $62M more in incentive pay.

If you suspect a gas leak at home or in your neighborhood:

Do not turn on light switches

Do not light a candle, cigarette or match

Do not turn on any electrical appliance (Danger of a spark)

EVACUATE THE AREA AND PHONE YOUR LOCAL GAS COMPANY

Learn the proper way to turn off gas before an emergency or disaster strikes.

Always call your local gas company before you dig on your property or elsewhere

Remember to be gas and carbon monoxide safe at work also

NOTE: So I have learned I cannot rely on my hyper-acute sense of smell always. The nose does not always know. Their is a phenomenon called ODOR FADE where one cannot detect natural gas by smell. This usually happens with new steel pipe or pipe whose use is not for natural gas. See details below:

Click here for information on Odor Fade

I am dismayed that reports have surfaced that PG&E may have not reacted to neighbor reports of a gas leak. It is almost certain that it was known a high pressure line ran through the neighborhood. Unfortunately if true, this is not the first time I have seen this.

Also having experienced unnerving explosions years ago from a nearby neighborhood, oil refinery explosions, and a ship explosion in a nearby port, I can sympathize with the loss of peace and feeling of security the people of San Bruno must be feeling now. The sound of an explosion is deafening and feels like it is dropping down on you or passing through you. You don't know where it is coming from or which way to run for cover.

Most of these stories from my personal experiences had a good outcome.

Exit Stage Left:
My first encounter with natural gas. As a child I can remember our house under construction. The day was normal until we opened a bedroom door to a cloud of gas. Our father was yelling from another room for us to leave the house. We could tell by the sound of his voice, he meant now! We bailed out of different bedroom windows and got away from our home. Fortunately, our father had the skills to turn off the gas before an explosion. Though he did come out of the situation a little loopy.

Slow Response of Gas Company Leads to Explosion:
Years ago in a Southern California neighborhood, early one weekend morning a woman reported to her local gas company the smell of gas. They did not respond quickly. In fact most of the day went by with no one dispatched from the gas company. This resulted in the home imploding breaking the homeowners back before the gas company arrived. Neighbors described the house as blowing out like a balloon before collapsing in on itself. Nearby neighbors had broken home and car windows as a result. Lesson here is that if you smell gas leave home. Then if your local gas company delays, call 911 to report the gas.

Earth Movement May Have Led to Gas Leak:
A few years ago the smell of gas was detected in my kitchen. The gas company was contacted responded to my home within 15 minutes. The source of the leak was a gas line under the patio. The gas was turned off at that source and the line tagged for replacement. The gas company representative stated that enough gas had built up under the house, that an explosion could have blown off the back of the house with just one light switch being turned on. Whew! Dodged a bullet with that one. It is suspected a sudden short jolt (earth movement) a few months earlier caused the pipe to be compromised.

Gas Leak Detected at the Home of a Friend
A couple of years ago the smell of gas was sensed on the side of a home near the gas meter. The gas company was informed but wanted to speak to the homeowner that was out of the country before responding. Can you imagine that! Only after it was insisted did they respond and handle the problem. Telling the renter's to leave the residence until the problem cleared. Lesson here is that you sometimes have to be insistent since people do not do their job responsibly with gas emergencies.

Gas Company Wrong Information Almost Leads to CO death of family:
Received a phone call from a friend that stated she had not been able to go to work for several days. She sounded unusual and drowsy or sick. That was not normal for this person. She described that she and her three children had flu-like symptoms. She suspected something was wrong with the stove but it had been fixed. She got no response phoning the local gas company several times, and was told that her home was not in their service area. That information was not correct and dangerous. She was given no further safety information by the gas company representative. Due to prolonged exposure to CO she became less cognitive of the extreme danger she was in. The clue came when she stated the kids felt better when they left home. She was kept on the phone while 911 was called. The fire department responded promptly. They later stated that if the family had stayed in the home one more night they all would have died due to the build up of carbon monoxide in their blood.

Hopefully your experience will not be the same and the gas company will respond quickly. But if not, call 911 and the local heroes, your fire department will most likely help you out.

It does not go boom, but is just as deadly. Carbon monoxide known as CO is odorless, colorless and very toxic gas. It cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted and can kill before it is recognized. Many victims think they have the flu. Many die in their sleep from this silent killer.

Sources of Carbon Monoxide:
Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. Incomplete oxidation during combustion in gas ranges and unvented gas or kerosene heaters may cause high concentrations of CO in indoor air. Worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (e.g., boilers, furnaces) can be significant sources, or if the flue is improperly sized, blocked, disconnected, or is leaking. Auto, truck, or bus exhaust from attached garages, nearby roads, or parking areas can also be a source.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Low concentrations of carbon monoxide causes fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. Higher concentrations of this toxin causes impaired vision and coordination; headaches; dizziness; confusion; nausea. Many report flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. This gas by-product is fatal at very high concentrations. Acute effects are due to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, thereby inhibiting the ability to take in oxygen. Moderate concentrations of this toxin causes angina, impaired vision, and reduced brain function may result. At higher concentrations, CO exposure can be fatal.

Steps to Take to Reduce Your Exposure to Carbon Monoxide
Make sure combustion equipment is maintained and properly adjusted. Be aware of vehicular use near or adjacent to buildings. Use additional ventilation as a temporary safety measure when high levels of CO are expected for a short period.

Do not idle the car inside garage, even with the door open.

Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.

Consider purchasing a vented space heater when replacing an unvented one.

Open flues when fireplaces are in use.

Do not cook indoors with charcoal or use it for indoor heating.

Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.

Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.

Only use trained professionals to inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) every year. Repair any leak promptly.

Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.

Leave a small opening in a window to allow fresh air into your home. Make sure to secure window to prevent unwanted access or use a window that is too small to gain entry.

IF YOU EVER SUSPECT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING, GO OUTDOORS IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID FALLING INTO UNCONCIOUSNESS. CALL 911 EMERGENCY SERVICES. DO NOT RE-ENTER THE LOCATION.

For more information see EPA website link below.

Vacations are wonderful and a time to relax. But it is important to ensure family safety and your own while away from home. Whether you stay in a hotel or rent a residence, stay gas aware. Gas leaks are always a concern but a dangerous by product of natural gas combustion is Carbon Monoxide, which is odorless and can be deadly.

Ask your hotel if they have poisonous gas detectors installed, if not bring your own

Pack an explosive gas / carbon monoxide detector to use while on vacation.

As at home, never use an oven or generator as a source of room heat.

Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com

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