Natural gas pipeline ruptures in Grant County

<br>DEER CREEK, Okla. (AP) _ A natural gas pipeline ruptured beneath a Grant County road Wednesday afternoon, spawning several grass fires, officials said. <br><br>No one was injured and no one lost gas

Thursday, November 22nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DEER CREEK, Okla. (AP) _ A natural gas pipeline ruptured beneath a Grant County road Wednesday afternoon, spawning several grass fires, officials said.

No one was injured and no one lost gas service in the explosion along Oklahoma Highway 11 in a rural area. The rupture was reported to the Grant County Sheriff's office at 4:12 p.m., deputy dispatcher Leisa Brittain said.

Fire departments in Grant and Kay counties were able to contain the fires to the area, said Dan Considine, a spokesman for Williams Gas Pipeline, which owns the line.

The 12-inch diameter pipeline that ruptured is connected to the Webb storage field, which runs under the road. The line connects to other pipelines in the area but is not part of the main line system, Considine said.

Gas crews closed off valves on either side of the rupture and allowed the blaze in the pipeline to burn itself out, Considine said.

Officials also had to close the road because of a crater left by the rupture, Considine said. Crews will fill the hole and reopen the highway by Friday, he said.