Excavation Safety: How to Recognize a Gas or Petroleum Leak

Helpful information for excavation contractors on how to recognize a gas or petroleum leak including what you might see, hear, or smell.

What you might see if there is a gas or petroleum leak

You might see	Natural Gas	Natural Gas Liquids	Petroleum Gas	Crude Oil	Refined Products
Brown patches in vegetation on or near a right-of-way	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Apparent or non-apparent damage to pipes that have been broken, pulled, dislodged, or gouged	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Oily sheen on water surfaces		✓		✓	✓
Liquid on the ground	✓	✓		✓	✓
Continuous bubbling in a wet area	✓		✓	✓	✓
A white vapor stream or mist-like cloud over the pipeline			✓	✓	✓
Dirt being blown or appearing to be thrown into the air	✓		✓	✓	✓
Fire coming from the ground or burning above the ground	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Unexpected frost or ice on the ground	✓		✓	✓	✓
An unusual area of melted snow in winter	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Dry spots in moist earth			✓

What you might smell if there is a gas or petroleum leak

You might smell	Natural Gas	Natural Gas Liquids	Petroleum Gas	Crude Oil	Refined Products
An odor like gasoline		✓	✓	✓	✓
Sulfur or rotten egg odor *	✓ *		✓	✓

What you might hear if there is a gas or petroleum leak

You might hear	Natural Gas	Natural Gas Liquids	Petroleum Gas	Crude Oil	Refined Products
A roaring, blowing, or hissing	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

This information is made possible via the MISS Dig 811 Excavation Handbook For Gas & Liquid Pipeline. 

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At Ron Meyer & Associate Excavating, Inc, we’ve been providing underground and commercial construction to private and commercial businesses for 39 years. As the general contractor or subcontractor, our experienced foremen, equipment operators, pipe layers, truck drivers and well-maintained equipment fleet make us an undeniable choice for your excavating services. Let’s talk about your project!