Canada-based Enbridge leaked gas 150ft into South Jordan home killing 15 year old Logan Hansen and leaked further threatening other homes and lives. How far away must a leak or frac be for you to live safely in your home? Seven miles? No. Do gas detectors protect us? No, they just let us know we’re about to blow up.
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What Happened
This information is preliminary and subject to change.
On November 6, 2024, about 3:09 p.m., a natural gas-fueled explosion fatally injured one person and destroyed a home in South Jordan, Utah.[1] There were no other injuries reported. Several nearby residences were damaged, and families were displaced. The South Jordan Fire Department responded and arrived on scene in about 6 minutes. Enbridge Inc. (Enbridge) subsidiary, Enbridge Gas Utah, provided natural gas service to the home.[2] Enbridge responded and arrived on scene about 3:45 p.m. and worked continuously to find and isolate the leak; Enbridge isolated the leak about 12:16 p.m. on November 7. At the time of the explosion, conditions were daylight and clear; the temperature was 41°F with no precipitation.
After the accident, Enbridge found a leak about 150 feet northeast of the home on a 4-inch diameter Aldyl A natural gas main it owned and operated.[3] The Aldyl A main was manufactured and installed in 1976 and operated at a pressure of about 45 psig, below the legal maximum allowable operating pressure of 60 psig. Enbridge detected subsurface gas between the main and two neighboring residences, including the accident home and the home immediately to the north. The subsurface gas extended from the main to the backyard and front yard of each home, reaching about 250 feet from the leak.
Enbridge also detected gas in the atmosphere of the neighboring home after the accident.
Before National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators arrived, Enbridge conducted pressure testing; completed leak surveys; and removed, retained, and repaired the failed main. After NTSB investigators arrived, Enbridge continued testing for gas in the area surrounding the exploded home.
While on scene, NTSB investigators examined the site where the explosion occurred, reviewed Enbridge’s operational procedures, gathered documentation, conducted interviews, and recovered physical evidence for examination by the NTSB Materials Laboratory. Preliminary information indicates that none of the five residents reported smelling gas before the explosion and there was not a natural gas alarm in the accident home.[4]
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on Enbridge’s integrity management program, emergency response procedures, public awareness program, and pipeline safety management system, as well as other causal factors.
Parties to this NTSB investigation include:
the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
the Utah Department of Public Safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal;
the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Public Utilities, Pipeline Safety Section;
the City of South Jordan; and Enbridge.
[1] All times in this report are local times.
[2] In June 2024, Canada-based Enbridge purchased local gas distribution company Questar Gas from Dominion Energy, Inc. and renamed it Enbridge Gas Utah, Enbridge Gas Wyoming, and Enbridge Gas Idaho.
[3] AldylA is the trademarked name of a polyethylene plastic gas pipeline product that was manufactured by the DuPont chemical company using a proprietary polymer resin. It is no longer manufactured or used in new pipelines.
On Wednesday, the NTSB released new information about what caused this deadly explosion. Neighbors like David Hanson were anxious that their homes would also be in danger.
“We’ve had zero communication from Enbridge, from the city, from the state, from the federal agencies,” Hanson said. “The feeling among all of us here is that we’ve all been at risk.”
The NTSB preliminary report revealed the gas leak was located 150 feet away from the home on 3200 West — in a main owned and operated by Enbridge Gas, formerly Dominion Energy. In total, the leaking gas reached approximately 250 feet away from the leak point, threatening other homes nearby.
The preliminary report outlined first the timeline of events:
Nov. 6; 3:09 p.m. — South Jordan home explodes
Nov. 6; 3:15 p.m. — South Jordan Fire Department arrives
Nov. 6; 3:45 p.m. — Enbridge Gas arrives to find and isolate the leak
Nov. 7; 12:16 p.m. — Enbridge isolates leak
The leak point was located northeast of the home, in a 4-inch diameter Aldyl A natural gas main — a polyethylene plastic gas pipeline made by the DuPont chemical company. It is no longer used in new pipelines, NTSB said.
“The Aldyl A main was manufactured and installed in 1976 and operated at a pressure of about 45 psig, below the legal maximum allowable operating pressure of 60 psig,” the report stated.
The subsurface gas was detected by Enbridge crews near the home that exploded and the home immediately north of it — with gas being detected in the front and back yards of both homes. Gas was also detected near the home south of the one that exploded.
The report said none of the five residents nearby reported smelling gas before the explosion, and there was not a natural gas alarm in the home that did explode.It’s unlikely an alarm would have saved Logan’s life. By the time explosive gas detectors go off in homes, it’s too late to safely escape. But, I suppose they let us know we’re about to die in pieces.
Enbridge Gas crews “removed, retained and repaired the failed main,” NTSB said.
The NTSB said the ongoing investigation will focus future efforts on Enbridge’s “integrity managementWTF is that?program, emergency response procedures, public awareness program, and pipeline safety management system, as well as other causal factors.”
Enbridge Gas responded to the report findings with the following statement:
Our company has been a part of the Utah community for over 95 years and public safety is always our top priority.But that means little in our day to day practices We are deeply saddened by this event and our hearts and prayers go out to the Hansen family for their tragic loss. NTSB has published its preliminary report and while federal regulations prohibit us from commenting on the ongoing investigation, we remain committed to continuing to contribute to the investigation.
SOUTH JORDAN – A new preliminary report from the NTSB into this month’s deadly house explosion in South Jordan revealed the gas leak didn’t start from the house. It originated under the street 150 feet away from the home. So, how far away could a leak actually cause an explosion?
KSL TV spoke with firefighters to better understand the distance a dangerous leak could travel, and discovered the length, in this case, wasn’t abnormal at all.
To cause a deadly blast like the one in South Jordan, firefighters in Draper said you need distance to make gas leaks more dangerous.
“Where it gets out toward the edge of the leak or cloud, that’s where you’ll have an ignitable mix of the gas and air,” said Batt. Chief Cody Jolley with the Draper Fire Department.
So how far away could the edge of a leak cause a blast?
“If it’s a high volume of gas that’s coming out of a line, it could go really far. I couldn’t say exactly, but a couple hundred feet potentially,” Jolley said.
According to the NTSB report, the South Jordan leak started under the middle of the road and then snaked its way 150 feet into the house.
“The biggest danger with natural gas is when it’s confined in something like a structure or underground,” Jolley said.And it takes a very low concentration in a confined space like a home or water well to kill.
And making it even more dangerous, from the distance the gas traveled, firefighters said it’s possible the rotten egg smell added to the gas, to warn you of a leak, could have gone away.
“The more it mixes with air, the more tendency it’s going to want to dissipate everything, yeah,” he said.
Firefighters said part of the reason the smell could go away is because the added odor is heavier than the gas, and the further away it goes, the more the two want to separate.
It’s unclear if that’s what happened in South Jordan, but firefighters warn that if you smell that rotten egg smell, don’t hesitate to give them a call.But don’t call from where you smell it, you might ignite the gas while dialing the phone and kill yourself.
SOUTH JORDAN — Inspections have wrapped up on the scene of last week’s deadly home explosion in South Jordan, and the area is deemed safe. Now city officials are focused on trying to prevent another tragedy like this from happening again.
Seeing what’s left of the South Jordan home that exploded from a gas leak and killed a 15-year-old boy has sparked concern throughout the city.
“We’ve been getting a lot of questions saying, ‘Is my house in trouble, what can I do?’” Rachael Van Cleave, City of South Jordan public information officer, said.
Van Cleave said all the safety inspections from different agencies like ATF, the NTSB, or Enbridge Gas wrapped up over the weekend, and the area is now deemed safe.but just until the next unseen deadly leak But many people are still wondering how to prevent the same thing from happening to them. That’s why the City is recommending everyone follow natural gas-safe practices and consider buying a natural gas leak detector.
“They don’t know that this is an option for them. They’re familiar with smoke detectors, they’re familiar with carbon monoxide detectors but they don’t know that these natural gas leak detectors are available,” Van Cleave said.
KSL TV checked around Wednesday and found that natural gas detectors can be bought online, or at major hardware stores like Helm’s Ace Hardware in West Jordan.
“People can buy one detector and know if they have gas leaks as well as carbon monoxide,” Brayden Hicks, a Helm’s Ace Hardware sales associate, said.
Ace associates told KSL TV that the technology has improved to make them smaller, consume less energy, and in turn, less expensive.
“Now they’ve shrunk it down to where it’s an affordable option for homeowners to purchase and it’s bundled with other detectors so it’s not a stand-alone device anymore. You can get a device that does both,” Hicks said.Ya, sure, the device will detect explosive levels of gas leaking into your home, but, most likely by the time the detector beeps to warn you, it’ll be too late to escape. One spark, one bit of static on your cat, your dog, your hair, your carpet, or flicking a switch is all it takes. Kaboom, your safe home becomes an instant killer.
If you read the label on the detector, it plugs right into the wall, and can detect carbon monoxide, methane, and propane gas. They run about $50 to $60. They are just one option to give you peace of mind if you’re concerned about gas in your house.
SOUTH JORDAN — The family of a 15-year-old boy is sharing about their heartbreak after he died in a natural gas explosion in his home this week. The family of Logan Hansen spoke at a vigil Friday night, where hundreds gathered to honor him.
Friends and classmates wearing Logan’s favorite color, blue, gathered in front of Bingham High School, some holding posters expressing how much they miss their friend.
Students and other families who arrived lit candles and stood in silence. Near a clearing in the middle of everyone was Logan Hansen’s family.
“I am very honored that you guys all came out here tonight to help me with my son,” Logan’s father said, getting choked up as he looked at the crowd of hundreds around him. “He was a great, great boy. I love him very much.”
Logan died Wednesday in the family’s home when the South Jordan Fire Department said a natural gas leak caused an explosion and fire. Investigators are still determining where the leak stemmed from.
His two younger sisters each spoke, their voices shaking as they talked about their big brother.
“He was the best brother ever,” one sister said, pausing as she began to cry. “He was so funny. He would make these very stupid jokes.”
The two girls talked about how Logan was known for his jokes, making people laugh when they were sad.
“He would always just send me random videos, and it was so funny, but they were so stupid, and they never made any sense,” said his other sister, laughing at the memory while also in tears. “And I’m really going to miss those.”
Logan’s older brother spoke about how he loved having Logan as his little brother and that Logan was always one to stay calm and mellow.
“He was such a great uncle to my two little kids,” he said
He told a story of how Logan once found his two-year old nephew sleeping in a corner, and Logan couldn’t handle seeing the toddler sleeping that way so he picked up his sleeping nephew and held him.
“I know he’s with me,” he said. “He’s not physically here anymore, but he’s with me. He’s with my family.”
Logan’s mother thanked everyone for the support, saying she appreciates everything people have done for them, even those who don’t know their family.
“I’m going to miss him so much,” Logan’s dad said.
Logan’s brother said he didn’t know what he would do if his whole family had been in that house during the explosion.
“I don’t know why it had to be him,” he expressed. “But he really is a hero, and I love him forever.”
Refer also to:
2001: Hutchinson Kansas: Industry’s leaking gas migrated almost 7 miles, killing two people in their home when it exploded
2006: Bruce Jack and two industry gas-in-water testers seriously injured when Jack’s gas contaminated (by industry) water well ignites blowing up his well house. Jack was hospitalized for a month.
A home explosion in Firestone Monday, April 17, 2017 killed two and sent two people to the hospital. Dennis Herrera/ Special to The Denver PostFIRESTONE, CO – APRIL 27: Crews continue to investigate a fatal house explosion on April 27, 2017 in Firestone, Colorado. Anadarko Petroleum plans to shut down 3,000 wells in northeastern Colorado after the fatal explosion. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
My frac’d well water, 2006; Encana/Ovintiv illegally frac’d our drinking water aquifers in 2004. Twenty years later, I am still hauling alternate water for my home.
There have been many more fatal home explosions caused by the oil gas and frac industry.
It’s unlikely an alarm would have saved Logan’s life. By the time explosive gas detectors go off in homes, it’s too late to safely escape. But, I suppose they let us know we’re about to die in pieces.
