Broke a gas pipe

[akist]

Digging my front drive to put foundations in for a retaining wall, cut through the neighbour's gas pipe (yellow). Pipe is completely in my land and to make matters worse it is dug in very shallow, and I have been planning to lower the ground levels at that location.

Can I request SGN either:

(1) move the gas pipe away from my land so then I can repair/renew my driveway in peace

or

(2) dig the pipe deeper so I can carry on works now and in future

If they leave the pipe as is it is about 50-75mm below surface level. It will make it impossible to renew the tarmac and to lower the levels at that location.

 

[blup]

Anything up to the meter is the supplier or their contractor’s responsibility afaik, time and money will be in their control. Is there any way you can work round it?

 

[Madrab]

Have you been in touch with the network transporter?

If you have cut a gas service pipe then you need to call 0800111999 urgently, will be for them to deal with. They need to isolate that immediately.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

As above, it needs a proper repair ASAP.

Moving to your works, you can ask SGN whatever you like, but I suspect anything other than a simple repair they will want to charge for. Pipe has probably been there for as long as the properties have been built, so basically has the 'right' to remain there, if you want it moved to suit your requirements, it's down to you to cover the cost of the Gas Transporter to move it.

 

[endecotp]

Ooops. Any warning tape or similar?

Does look deeper than "50 - 75 mm" in the photo though...

 

[akist]

Ooops. Any warning tape or similar?

Does look deeper than "50 - 75 mm" in the photo though...

No tape, nothing.
The ground is sloping upwards. The pipe was at ground level if it were not for some flowerbeds hiding it. I tried to take some quick photos before the SGN guys tried to move it. As you can see the right side of the spirit level, this is where it obviously is at ground level, not even 10mm into the ground!

 

[akist]

SGN said are coming tomorrow to disconnect this gas pipe completely and dig out a new path to service the neighbour (as it should have originally been). I hope they fix it tomorrow! Currently they left it with barriers all around (exactly where I am digging my new wall foundations).

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If they leave the pipe as is it is about 50-75mm below surface level. It will make it impossible to renew the tarmac and to lower the levels at that location.

Is that a Transco approved gas proof glove, you have on the end of that pipe?

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Is that a Transco approved gas proof glove, you have on the end of that pipe?

You may jest, but I've seen them seal a broken plastic service with a Broom Handle and a plug of Denso Tape in the past!

One occasion with Denso Tape was after we were digging to lay a new sewer, and found an old steel service. The Gas Boys were working just along the road, so we asked them if this was still live. The Boss Man came and had a look, 'Nah' he said. 'Long since dead, you can pull it.'

It was very much still live, with a plastic insertion. Out came the Denso.

 

[Exedon]

On a large new build site a ground worker asked if I had any duct tape. They had chopped strait through a 25mm gas service and proposed taping it back together!
By good luck I had 25mm cap in van I then phoned Northern gas network.

 

[dilalio]

Lump of clay does good for an emergency until the cavalry arrives.

 

[gas112]

Lump of clay does good for an emergency until the cavalry arrives.

yep done it regularly when attending outsiders any means possible rather than let it blow

 

[bernardgreen]

It was the clay around this live gas main that prevented gas leaking.

The pipe literally fell apart when it wa removed.

The clay was disturbed when a trench was being dug for a new plastic gas main. The crew reacted rapidly to replace the clay and seal the leak,, By late evening the corroded length pipe was replaced. Supply to the village was maintained throughout by a temporary bypass pipe

 

[akist]

The glove was used to stop any dirt going into the dead part of the pipe in case they needed to connect it back. On the live side of the pipe we used a yellow end cap fitting I luckily had lying around. But gas pressure is very low, I think it is like 60 mbars before the gas meter compare this with 2 - 4 bar in water pipes, a factor of 30+. The workmen said when you light it up it only produces a 50 cm flame. At that point I did ask him to put his cigarette out.

We managed to pour the foundations today. Under the live gas pipe.

 

[endecotp]

Do you think the ground level in your driveway may have been lowered previously at some point, leaving the limited cover?