AUGUST 4, 2015
FALFURRIAS, TX
Update: Kinder Morgan released a statement on Tuesday morning regarding the explosion of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline:
"Kinder Morgan continues to assess the situation following the natural gas release in Brooks County, Texas, and the company will conduct an investigation into the cause of the release. As of last night, the impacted segment of the TGP pipeline was shut down and isolated from the TGP system. Natural gas service is being diverted to other lines on the system, and TGP is working with its shippers to minimize any reduction in service and anticipates no loss of service to residential customers," according to the statement from company spokeswoman Melissa Ruiz.
"Plans today include excavating the site after making one call notifications to ensure the safety of our investigation team when entering the hole and evaluating the damage. Once that is completed, we will work on plans to repair the line and resume service," according to the statement.
"Personnel are onsite and investigating to determine the length of the repair," Kinder Morgan said.
Due to the scheduled maintenance at Edinburg, Tennessee does not anticipate any additional impact to scheduled volumes at this time, the company added.
The Tennessee Gas Pipeline is an approximately 11,900-mile pipeline system that transports natural gas from Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico and south Texas to the northeast section of the United States, including New York City and Boston, according to the company website. The TGP is run by an affiliate of Kinder Morgan, the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Tennessee).
Original Story: The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office evacuated eastern Falfurrias on Monday night after a natural gas pipeline ruptured.
At about 7:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office responded to the explosion, said Chief Deputy Urbino “Benny” Martinez.
The explosion injured a husband and wife, Martinez said. They were taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg for treatment.
“At approximately 8:31 p.m. Central Time on Aug. 3, 2015, Kinder Morgan received notification of a natural gas release on its Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) system east of Falfurrias, Texas, in Brooks County,” according to a statement from the company. “The company has isolated the impacted portion of the pipeline and local responders, including the Brooks County Sheriff’s Department, are on site.”
The Texas Department of Transportation temporarily shut down State Highway 285 between Falfurrias and Riviera.
Deputies evacuated about 150 homes, Martinez said. Border Patrol agents assisted the Sheriff’s Office.
They were allowed to return home at about midnight.
//-------------------------///
Tuesday, August 04, 2015 02:37PM
FALFURRIAS, TX -- Authorities say the explosion of a natural gas pipeline near the small South Texas town of Falfurrias injured two people and prompted the evacuation of about 150 homes.
An official with the Brooks County sheriff's office said the explosion occurred Monday night near Falfurrias, a town of about 5,000 located about 80 miles southwest of Corpus Christi. The families were allowed to return home about five hours after the explosion.
Chief Deputy Urbino "Benny" Martinez tells Harlingen television station KGBT a husband and wife were injured. They were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Kinder Morgan said in a statement Tuesday that they're investigating the incident on its pipeline. The company said the impacted segment of the pipeline was shut down and isolated from the system on Monday night.