Baumgarten Operator Points to Explosion's Likely Cause

Gas Connect Austria, the 51% OMV-owned operator of Austria's gas grid and the Baumgarten gas hub damaged by explosion on December 12, has indicated its likely cause.

GCA said late December 13: "The initial suspicions that the accident may have originated with a newly installed filter separator have been increasingly confirmed by the evidence in the course of the day. The investigating authorities believe that the incident was caused by the seal on the cap of the filter separator. The cap had come loose and was propelled with great force against another part, causing damage to this part as well. The gas which subsequently escaped was then ignited, leading to a gas fire at two points of origin. An emergency plan was immediately initiated and led to a shutdown of the entire gas station. The damaged parts of the plant were isolated from the rest of the station, thereby facilitating a resumption in international gas transport the same night [December 12]."

GCA said earlier December 13 that the [Niederoesterreich] State Office of Criminal Investigations, experts in the field, and employees of GCA were presently investigating the cause of the accident.

GCA is providing further information about the Baumgarten gas hub explosion on this weblink.