DRUMRIGHT — City of Drumright utility workers have put in continuous effort to restore natural gas service following a damaged main line. According to a City of Drumright update on Monday, Sept. 7 those efforts were entering the final phase with 741 of the city’s 991 impacted gas meters turned back on.
“Crews began work again at 7:30 a.m. today (Sept. 7) and are continuing to turn gas service back on throughout the city,” said City Manager Shawn Gibson.
Drumright leadership initially stated residents and businesses should be prepared for up to a week without gas service. A week later approximately 250 meters were stated to be awaiting restoration. Gibson assured the public that crews are working as quickly as possible while ensuring each reconnection is completed safely.
“Each meter takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete from start to finish,” he said. “With the number of meters that need to be restored, this process takes considerable time.”
He emphasized that residents should not turn their own gas meters back on for safety purposes. Gas meters are meant to be turned on by authorized city employees only. However, city employees are not permitted to light pilot lights. Residents who cannot safely light their own pilot lights must have another person or a licensed plumber available to do so before gas service can be restored.
The natural gas interruption began Aug. 31 after the city was notified that a contractor operating a backhoe had struck the main gas line serving Drumright. The damaged 6-inch line which is located along the West Truck Route east of Smathers Street caused 991 meters to be impacted and more than 65 miles of service lines serving Drumright, Olive, Oak Grove, and Schlegel, according to city administration reports.
After the damaged line was repaired and critical infrastructure was restored city employees began reconnecting the remaining meters. The city initially prioritized critical facilities before moving into the broader community.
On Saturday, Sept. 5 Gibson said three crews were working on the restoration effort but the number of locations and time required at each meter made it difficult to provide residents with an exact arrival time.
“There is no way to predict exactly when a crew will arrive at a particular address,” he said.
He also reminded residents that someone must be present when crews arrive before service can be restored. If no one is home, crews will leave a door hanger with instructions and the city has a crew assigned to return to residences when residents call as directed.
Crew members have been facing additional challenges including one employee being bitten by a dog while attempting to perform his duties. The employee was transported to the hospital for treatment and has since returned home and is recovering, according to Gibson.
The city began reconnecting meters in numerical account order after critical infrastructure was restored with crews working between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day. The work is continuing until all gas meters are back in service.
Additionally, Drumright Fire Department members have been assisting with the gas line issues. Department leadership asked residents to keep grass, weeds, and other vegetation cleared from around gas meters. Meters that are obstructed can be difficult for crews to locate and safely access.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through the remaining meters,” Gibson said.
With 250 meters and up to 15 minutes for each turn on there is roughly 62.5-hours of crew work remaining as of the last available update made on Sept. 7.