Posted on 09/13/2018 2:35:39 PM PDT by CtBigPat
Multiple explosions in the Lawrence, MA area.
Just a coincidence that the explosions happen in the lower class neighborhood instead of the older upper class neighborhood a few miles away?
Try again after you sell that bridge in Brooklyn.
That’s true, but up there the meters are in the basements.
There are many variables to consider when it comes to gas leak migration, it could take days, weeks, or longer for gas to reach explosive levels inside a structure. The variables include pipe size, pressure, location, soil type (clay, sandy, etc), soil condition (dry, wet, etc).
Something that happened Thursday appears to be a sudden overpressure of a low pressure system.
In the beginning then I could not imagine an over pressure like that. I later understood that is what happened. There is no way that should be able to happen. But it did.
I would think that the gas mains were not designed for that. Although anywhere there is black Iron pipe then that should be OK. Do you think that the mains may have been damaged and will have to be dug up and replaced? I am not sure what they are made of.
“If you already suspect gas is in your house then just get out(open door very gently).”
Yes! Do not turn on/off any lights, do not use a phone, just get out.
“If not then shut off the main gas valve(to kill some ignition sources).”
No! Only a properly trained and certified person (gas company employee, fire department, or plumber) should operate the gas service stopcock. If it’s an old plug style stopcock, it doesn’t have an internal stop that stops movement in full open or full closed position. So if the valve is not fully closed you’ll have blow-by.
“Shut off the main electric breaker(to kill more ignition sources)”
NO! By doing this you can create a spark.
“and open all the windows.”
NO! By doing this, if there is gas blowing outside the structure, you now make it easy for gas to enter the structure.
The explosive range of natural gas is 4% to 15% gas in air. Opening windows and doors with gas already inside the structure you can cause the gas to reach this range and cause an explosion. Let the gas company or fire department vent the gas from the structure.
Best advice is just leave. Don’t turn on/off lights, don’t make phone calls, etc. Just get the hell out and move upwind from the gas leak.
Simple equipment failure can do it too.
“Just a coincidence that the explosions happen in the lower class neighborhood instead of the older upper class neighborhood a few miles away? “
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Nonsense-—Andover and N Andover are very nice towns.
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It can happen.
I am sorry but I already addressed your arguments as well. And I don’t agree. Are we men(or women) or mice. If you don’t smell gas then there is nothing wrong with taking steps to protect your home. The modern version is to be a snowflake coward. That is not how it always was. You have some personal responsibility, and a delay in securing your home while it is reasonable could result later in serious injury to your neighbors or emergency personal. Not just the loss of your home. There is an odor that has been deliberately added to NG. So you can smell it. And in this case I can guarantee that no one is coming to secure your home for hours or even days.
If you are not able to shut off the main then every appliance is Required by law to have its own shut off. Those are very easy to shut off and require no tools.
I was at a friends house several years back. There were only women there at the time. Outside on a deck attached to the house- they had a gas barbecue grill with wooden doors underneath. The propane was in there. The grill was being used and suddenly the was a loud bang. The doors blew open and flames were shooting out from a pressurized gas line.
The women were terrified and ready to just run. I immediately went out side and turned off the propane tank. The flames went out. And those women were very grateful, and thought I was so brave. But I rationally theorized that there was almost no danger of a pressurized Propane tank exploding from a external flame in that short a time. But if action was not taken immediately then very bad things could occur. The house could have burned to the ground. Fireman could be injured fighting the fire.
Do you think I did the wrong thing?
To answer your question, not every house on a given street has gas. Power companies can sometimes give steep rebates to go all electric or even peel some appliances away from competing gas utilities.
Another possibility is that some houses have gas but it’s not turned on. Houses with gas furnaces but electric water heater (see above about rebates). Being summer time, the furnace is not in use and a lot of customers elect to have the gas turned off as a cost savings.
Houses that have been updated to electronic ignition means no burning pilot light.
Houses with the meter outside using temperature compensated meters.
I was speaking of the explosions and fires in Dallas.
Growing up in North Andover, and with many ties to Lawrence, we were told that there were more Puerto Rican’s in Lawrence than there were in Puerto Rico. Mingya!!
Of couse....... the terror lasted for months. The UMWA miners, their wives and mothers and fathers took on camo uniform for their picket lines. They actually invaded and occupied mining properties. They destroyed the automobiles of “scab” supervisors. They blew up electical transformers.
They enlisted nuns to block the roads with their vans.
The diverted pressure is gas pressure. Gas is released
btt
“Gas may be in concentrations high enough to flash over before you are able to perceive the oder of mercaptan in the air especially with natural gas.”
Not likely. The % of mercaptan in gas is such that you WILL smell it long before the gas concentration teaches explosive levels.
49CFR, 192.625, “Odorization of Gas.” It mandates that any combustible gas within a distribution line and transmission line (exceptions noted in the rules) must contain odorant at the level of 20% (1/5) of the lower explosive limit so that a person with a “typical” sense of smell can detect it.
“time to convene the FR kangaroo court.”
Yeah no kidding.
The days of seeking the truth hidden behind liberal lies sadly seem to be over.
The PHMSA (Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) has already ruled out a deliberate act.
Not that it would matter to the members of the kangaroo court who flew off the handle to quickly blame the wrong people/company.
“Oil does not blow up your house.”
Yes it can. Lack of proper ventilation can cause a build up of carbon monoxide (CO) which is explosive between 12.5–74.2% in air.
“Electric does not blow up your house.”
That’s true.
“Wood and coal do not blow up your house.”
Yes they can, see above about CO. Also with wood and coal you have highly flammable creosote to deal with.
You obviously haven’t got a damn clue as to what you’re talking about.
What type and pressure are the gas mains in this “older upper class neighborhood”?
Ever “think” that both areas are served off of different regulator stations or distribution mains?
Over pressurization can happen especially on a low pressure gas system.
If a crew is working on the line and they break loose a tee or a section of pipe during a repair they could have a pressure drop especially if they don’t cap or bag the pipe ASAP. A bag is an inflatable stopper used on low pressure. But if the system detected the pressure drop it’s going to do what it can to restore pressure to keep from losing customers.
A bad thing about low pressure is that it’s very susceptible to condensation and water being in the lines. This could foul the regulators.
As far as damage to the mains, it would depend on condition of the pipe, previous damage, etc.
My understanding is that plans are in place to replace all the pipe.
“Gas is released”
Yes, to atmosphere.
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