High Pressure Gas Line Explodes Near Chandler

News9.com

CHANDLER, Oklahoma – A high pressure gas line exploded south of state Highway 66 just west of Chandler.

When authorities first got the call, they saw large flames and smoke coming from the scene, about 2 miles west and 1/2 mile south of Chandler.

Residents said they could see the blaze from Chandler. Brenda Rich, who works at a gas station in town, said she didn't hear the explosion, which happened around 3:30 p.m., but the flames were high enough to see.

There were no homes or businesses within a mile of the explosion. No injuries were reported and all ONEOK employees were accounted for.

A small grass fire was started from the blaze, but firefighters were able to get it under control. The mild winds from the northwest kept grass fires from spreading.

Lincoln County Emergency Manager Joey Wakefield said it is unclear exactly what caused the line explosion, which burned for nearly an hour as natural gas spewed out of the 26 inch pipeline.

Investigators are now reviewing past data on the line and sending pieces of the ruptured pipe to a lab that will conduct tests to determine a cause.

Don Sherry with ONG said the line belongs to parent company ONEOK. They believe it is likely one of the transmission lines that delivers natural gas to Chandler, Wellston and Davenport, which may have impacted gas service in those areas. Sherry said service was disrupted to some residents of Warwick, a town located downstream from the pipeline.

Because of the heat from the blaze, crews had to wait for the fire to die down before they could get near the blaze. A large, dark cloud formed over the scene from the extreme heat.

SkyNEWS9 HD pilot Mason Dunn said the flames were a couple hundred feet in the air. The explosion caused a large hole beneath the pipeline. Dunn said the explosion was visible from NEWS 9 in Oklahoma City, over 35 miles away.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.