Shifting Soil Cause Of Putra Heights Explosion Dosh

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The pipe involved in the Putra Heights explosion was not fully supported by the soil around it due to cyclic loading, causing a weakness in the welded joint that broke apart and started the fire.
The Occupational Safety and Health Department (Dosh) said this happened despite the pipe itself meeting technical specifications.
"After (the pipe) failed, it released gas. The metal friction between the pipes can cause a fire and result in an explosion," Dosh Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat said in a press conference at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam this evening.
A major fire involving a Petronas gas line on April 1 saw flames shooting more than 30m into the air, with temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius, transforming the surrounding landscape into a large crater.
The flames were fully extinguished after nearly eight hours.
About 146 victims were brought to hospitals and clinics for treatment, while Bernama reported that 219 homes suffered damage.
Pipe movement
During the press conference, Husdin explained how moisture and water seepage weakened the soil's ability to hold the pipe in place.
The Minerals and Geosciences Department had also found that the pipe was located at a waterlogged area of the soil that contained groundwater, he added.
He said the presence of water had caused the soil to become loose and pliable, resulting in movement of the pipe underground.
The Public Works Department's probe into the incident found that the pipe's joint had moved 15.9cm, he said.
Dosh Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che AmatHe said cyclic loading, a repetitive application of stress, had caused the pipe to fail at its weakest section, the welded joint.
Another test, a fracture analysis, found stress lines on the pipe's surface - evidence of tensile overload as one of the main contributing factors to failure, he said.
“Similarly, a fractography, which analysed the pipe's fractures to determine its cause of failure, proved fatigue occurred in the pipe due to external forces,” added Husdin.
No elements of sabotage, negligence
At the same press conference, Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan confirmed that no elements of sabotage or negligence were found.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, who was at the event, announced the formation of a special committee.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari"The next step is the formation of a special committee by the state government with support from Petronas and other bodies involved to suggest the follow-up actions that need to be taken by the government," he said, adding that this includes legal aspects of the incident.
The committee will also be in charge of suggesting preventative measures, he added. - Mkini

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