Report: Several Failures Before Oklahoma City Gas Explosion

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Natural Gas failed to investigate the cause of at least eight previous failures on a gas main in a northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood before a January explosion damaged 50 houses and injured one man, according to a new state report.

The report was released by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Wednesday, according to The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/2aK8dCm ).

The report also said a technician didn’t properly investigate an odor complaint made nearly 12 hours before the Jan. 2 explosion. The commission said the technician determined that the leak was nonhazardous and that repairs could wait several days.

The commission said earlier this year that the explosion was caused by poor workmanship on a 4-inch gas main installed by a contractor in 1983.

The report, prepared by the commission’s pipeline safety department, will be sent to the commission’s general counsel.

Commission spokesman Matt Skinner said several different actions on violations are possible, including a court case or fines.

Oklahoma Natural Gas spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard says the company monitored the pipeline regularly and made repairs when problems arose.

“The repairs consisted of replacing joint fusions that had a leak of any size whatsoever,” Ballard said. “We maintained the system by monitoring the pipeline on regular intervals.”

The company is reviewing previous testing and repairs made throughout its entire system. The company expects to finish the review by the end of the year.