The Explosion in Irving Was Another Faulty Pipeline Coupler

From Brett Shipp
WFAA

Officials say faulty pipe triggered Irving house blast

IRVING — State officials say Atmos Energy is to blame for a natural gas explosion in Irving that leveled a house and severely injured its owner last May. Atmos says it is not at fault.

We’ve been here before many times. Brett Shipp’s investigative reporting on Texas Railroad Commissioner malpractice was featured on Bill Moyers Journal

That a NORMAC compression coupling failed again should not have come as a surprise to state officials; several reports on file with the Texas Railroad Commission report trouble with the NORMAC style coupling dating back to the 1970s.

Apparently there’s a rubber gasket and after 40 years of service, the gaskets crack. AND an Atmos operations admitted in video testimony that Atmos knew the gaskets leak!

As of today, the Texas Railroad Commission has no plans to address the nearly 800,000 aging compression couplings still in the ground, although the agency does have a standing order to have them removed it they are discovered.

If you live in a home with gas, demand an inspection!

You’ve got to go watch the video! It’s incriminating as hell!

I hear talk of Perry appointing Commissioner Michael Williams to Hutchinson’s empty Senate seat. I don’t see that happening but it would be just perfect. Give the biggest failure in Texas a promotion.