WFAA-TV

Don Deaver of Houston has seen a problem with compression risers.

WYLIE — A deadly natural gas explosion in Wylie last October has spawned a major safety initiative by the Texas Railroad Commission.

The state's natural gas regulatory agency has requested all gas companies to survey their use of a particular pipe and fitting that malfunctioned and is blamed for the Wylie deaths last fall.

A state Railroad Commission investigation released last March found that a faulty coupling under the alley caused the explosion that leveled the house where Benny and Martha Cryer were sleeping inside.

Both were killed in the explosion.

The pipe and fitting being blamed for the natural gas leak is called a compression coupling and riser and their safety and integrity are being questioned.

In the hours that followed the Wylie explosion, Atmos Energy scoured the neighborhood and found 21 defective riser pipes and couplings that needed to be replaced.

Some 24 gas leaks were found.

In a letter dated July 17th, Railroad Commission safety Director Mary McDaniel issues a "safety inquiry" notice to all gas service companies in Texas seeking information about "any leaks or failures of compression risers" and any information regarding the recommended "discontinuance of these risers."

Pipeline expert Don Deaver of Houston and says he has seen extensive problems with these particular pipes and fittings across the state.

The last one he saw involved an explosion in west Dallas in 2001 in which four teens were horribly burned.

Atmos officials say they have discussed compression fittings safety issue with Railroad Commission officials and are complying with all requests.

But Deaver says gas companies need to be more than compliant.

He says they need to replace old compression risers and hopefully help prevent another tragedy. "This is a problem," said Deaver, "this is not a remote problem that happens infrequently, it does happen quite a bit."

E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com