A Huge Natural Gas Line Explosion Just Lit Up West Virginia [PHOTOS]

business insider ^ | 12.11.2012 | Matthew Boesler

[Morgana]

Reports are coming in of a big explosion in Sissonville, West Virginia.

Via local news outlet WSAZ:

The northbound lanes of Interstate 77 are closed in the Sissonville area, from Tuppers Creek to Pocatalico due to what's being called a major gas line explosion.

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper tells WSAZ.com crews were called to what was described as a major gas line explosion in Sissonville.

WSAZ says that right now, no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

Below are two photos from Twitter. The first was posted by Charleston Gazette reporter

[Morgana]

Just happened!!

[Morgana]

ping

[Scotswife]

I’m so excited one of these gas lines is only about 20 ft. from my living room

[INVAR]

How many of these does it make in the last month or so?

Methinks these neighborhood explosions are not accidents.

[Morgana]

You are in Sissonville?

[Mich Patriot]

[Morgana]

Have you seen the pictures? I have NEVER seen a gas explosion like that.

[from occupied ga]

Like this explosion?

[elpinta]

Live scanner audio:

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?action=cwp&ctid=3016

[listenhillary]

Going across the highway?

[Morgana]

What in the hank hill is that???

[Secret Agent Man]

Probably a fairly large trunk line under decent pressure.

[listenhillary]

A large natural gas pipeline fire. They have the gas shut off I hear.

[Mr. K]

holy cow! you were that close to it ??

[SMARTY]

Ughh... not gas will be untouchable!

[MestaMachine]

About a two hour drive from here. Prayers up for everyone in the area.

[arderkrag]

Eerie shades of Centralia.

[listenhillary]

No, it was from the link.

[listenhillary]

Centralia MO?

[RadiationRomeo]

A couple years ago a huge gas line exploded near my hometown of Lisbon OH. You could see the flames all the way over in Pittsburgh PA. This was the main pipe from Louisiana to New England, 3 or 4 feet in diameter. It happened in the middle of a pasture luckily, but burned for about half a day.

[presently no screen name]

Is it anywhere near PRINCETON?

[PA Engineer]

Does anyone know if this was at the actual Interstate crossing?

[MestaMachine]

A little over a hundred miles. Sissonville is almost straight north of Princeton.

[fungoking]

Centralia MO?

I remember the Centralia, MO gas explosion. Was a senior at Moberly at the time.

[thackney]

Looks like a divided highway. Possible Interstate sign in the foreground of the flames.

[The Cajun]

Wonder if the constant vibration from the interstate above got to it?

[thackney]

I have NEVER seen a gas explosion like that.

Sadly, I have. I've seen the results when a compressor station fire got out of control and spread to the main pipeline.

[raccoonradio]

video in Dungannon OH of that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQWQ8BqlYzU

[MestaMachine]

Now, WSAZ reports that the well has been capped.

The Charleston Gazette is reporting that the fire has been put out, and the search for casualties is underway:

Crews apparently extinguished the fire just before 2 p.m. but a large amount of fumes remain in the air, said Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper.

Carper said paramedics and emergency responders are going into homes and apartments now to assess injuries or fatalities

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/west-virginia-natural-gas-explosion-2012-12#ixzz2Em4ce6I0

[arderkrag]

Centralia, PA. Inspiration for the Silent Hill games. There's a coal fire below the surface that's been burning since 1962. Ten people (estimated) still live there. How is anyone's guess.

[PA Engineer]

I was wondering. Cased highway crossings have and will be a continued nightmare for transmission lines.

[Dead Corpse]

Someone found a live chupacabra and are attempting to Kill it with FIRE!

[presently no screen name]

Thank you!

[WinMod70]

I was thinking that maybe Tickle’s pursuit of building his own still didn’t work out as planned.

[The Cajun]

Cased highway crossings have and will be a continued nightmare for transmission lines.

What bugs the heck out of me down here is that they bring up the pipe line for valves and gauges (Test station) right next to a highway instead of putting them off in the middle of nowhere.
Had one go up about 3/4 of a mile from my house when a UPS 18 wheeler lost control in the fog and ran over it.
Sounded like a F-15 on full burners next door.

[penelopesire]

Thanks for the update. Sounds really bad. Listening to scanner now. Prayers up for all involved.

[PA Engineer]

Wonder if the constant vibration from the interstate above got to it?

Interstate highway pipeline crossings are usually cased in a larger heavy wall pipe.



You will normally see the vent pipes on each side of the road.



The problem is many of the original crossings had problems with shorted casings which prevented the corrosions systems from protecting the internal pipe when the casings flooded. It usually takes a fairly qualified engineer to interpret the data to find the problem.

There are remediation methods, however it is a problem that is regularly missed. Just a preliminary interpretation of the possible issue involved.

[Morgana]

No. This is close to Charleston. Near Elkview and Clendenin.

[Morgana]

Yes!!!! The explosion when strait across the interstate.

http://www.wowktv.com/story/20316402/explosion-in-sissonville-7441-teresa-lane-cedar-ridge-center-nursing-home-homes-fire

[chrisser]

Isn’t Sissonville where Buckwild is shot?

[The Cajun]

Thanks for the info, didn't know that's how they do it.
Have seen those vent pipes before and didn't give it a second thought.

[PA Engineer]

What bugs the heck out of me down here is that they bring up the pipe line for valves and gauges (Test station) right next to a highway instead of putting them off in the middle of nowhere.

I really hated that. Nothing like dodging interstate traffic. I recall many of the crossings are old and were somewhat remote prior to development sprawl (including highway ROWs). There is pretty much nothing they can do about the carrier pipe and venting. These are usually too long to feasibly case beyond the interstate ROW.

I have argued (as many have) for the use of heavy wall pipe, instead of casings.

[presently no screen name]

Thanks. The only town in WV I am familiar with is Princeton, as my brother lives there.

[Morgana]

http://www.wsaz.com/breaking/home/BREAKING-NEWS—Explosion-Reported-in-Sissonville-183019371.html

BREAKING NEWS: Shelter in Place Issued After Gas Line Explosion in Sissonville

SISSONVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) — According to Metro 911, people in the area are being asked to shelter in place after a major gas explosion has been reported in Sissonville.

Sissonville Elementary is not being evacuated, but sheltering
in place.

NGK Spark Plugs in Sissonville tells WSAZ.com that they are shutting down the plant for A and B shift. C shift is to report as scheduled.

Emergency crews at the scene tell WSAZ.com that the gas line has been capped.

Right now, the northbound lanes of I-77 are shut down at the I-77/79 split in Charleston. All traffic is being diverted to I-79N.

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper tells WSAZ.com crews were called to what was described as a major gas line explosion in Sissonville.

The fire was reported just before 1 p.m. along Teresa Lane in Sissonville.

President Carper says fires have been reported in multiple locations. This explosion happened very close to Cedar Ridge Nursing Home, according to Carper.

So far no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

Drivers near the area say they can see flames shooting in the air.

Rt. 21 will be limited to emergency vehicles.

Sgt. Michael Baylous tells WSAZ.com the line belongs to Columbia Gas. Crews are currently on the scene.

A spokesperson with Mountaineer Gas says the line is not theirs, but the company does have crews helping to assist in the area.

Kanawha County Schools issued an automated message about 2:30 p.m. letting parents know who have children attending schools in the Sissonville area are safe and will remain at the school until the roads reopen.

We have a crew at the scene. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

[Royal Wulff]

Northbound lanes closed. Southbound, no problemo.

[WVNan]

They just interrupted all stations here to stop traffic on I-77. That’s how I heard about it. The siren was so loud it scared the baby near to death. Me too. Never had that kind of interruption on Nick Jr. channel.

[Morgana]

Happened to see pics from a friend who lives out there. That is how I found out. Am desperatly trying to call someone I know who’s son works at the spark plug plant. I think her son is okay but am still worried.

No deaths reported but people taken to hospital for too much smoke.

I have called some people that are out in Blue Creek to warn them of the smokey air coming their way. —if you are in or near Clendenin or the Queen shoals area there are reports of smoke heavy in the air.

Thank the Lord for the rain we have had last three days!!! Do you realize what kind of forest fire this could have been?

[Morgana]

Oh honey Princeton is way down in Mercer county!!! This happened in Kanawha County.

[Morgana]

“Isn’t Sissonville where Buckwild is shot?”

Yes and I think their moonshine still just blew up.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

A gas well explosion????