PHMSA Pipeline Safety Program

Stakeholder Communications

Home General Public Local Officials State Regulators Federal Agencies Emergency Officials Advocates Industry Excavators

Site Pages

Pipeline Basics

Safety Standards

Inspection

Enforcement

Incident & Mileage Reports

Damage Prevention

Alternative Fuels

Community Assistance and Technical Services

Land Use Planning

Public Meetings

Public Awareness

Liquefied Natural Gas

Pipeline Library

Pipeline Glossary

Links

State-specific information:

Serious Pipeline Incidents By Cause

This report is a sub-report of the PHMSA Serious Pipeline Incidents report. As such, it represents only Serious Incidents (A) over the time period and pipeline system specified.

The data source for this table is the PHMSA Filtered Incident Files.(1) (2) (3)

Where appropriate, the table columns can be sorted by clicking the corresponding column header.

More Pipeline Incidents and Mileage Reports are available.

Important Update: As of October 2009, these reports were modified to exclude Gas Distribution incidents where fire/explosion was the primary cause of failure, such as a house fire that subsequently resulted in - but was not caused by - a distribution line failure (B)
National All Pipeline Systems: Serious Incident Details: 1989-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % of Total
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 12 1.0%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 1 0.0%
VARIOUS 51 4.5%
Sub Total 64 5.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 9 0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 42 3.7%
VARIOUS 349 30.9%
Sub Total 400 35.4%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 27 2.4%
VARIOUS 78 6.9%
Sub Total 105 9.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 3 0.2%
COMPONENT 4 0.3%
JOINT 2 0.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 0.0%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 2 0.1%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 4 0.3%
VARIOUS 80 7.1%
Sub Total 96 8.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 3 0.2%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 1 0.0%
HIGH WINDS 2 0.1%
LIGHTNING 1 0.0%
TEMPERATURE 1 0.0%
VARIOUS 72 6.3%
Sub Total 80 7.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 30 2.6%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 0.0%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 1 0.0%
VANDALISM 4 0.3%
Sub Total 36 3.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 19 1.6%
UNKNOWN 37 3.2%
VARIOUS 290 25.7%
Sub Total 346 30.7%
Totals 1,127 100.0%
National, All Pipeline Systems, 1989-2008

National, All Pipeline Systems, Serious Incidents 1989-2008

Source Data

Year ALL OTHER CAUSES NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE EXCAVATION DAMAGE INCORRECT OPERATION OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE CORROSION MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
1989 31 8 34 7 0 3 4
1990 12 6 19 4 0 4 9
1991 19 6 26 6 0 5 5
1992 24 6 25 4 0 2 8
1993 24 4 18 9 0 6 6
1994 17 13 27 6 0 3 10
1995 17 3 22 8 0 4 5
1996 23 5 25 4 0 2 4
1997 17 4 19 3 0 3 3
1998 21 2 30 7 0 3 7
1999 18 3 25 8 0 6 6
2000 23 3 20 4 0 5 7
2001 13 3 17 3 0 3 1
2002 12 0 12 5 1 2 4
2003 15 3 31 4 3 0 5
2004 12 6 9 6 3 3 5
2005 8 2 8 8 9 2 2
2006 8 1 12 2 6 3 1
2007 18 1 13 2 7 3 1
2008 14 1 8 5 7 2 3
National Hazardous Liquid: Serious Incident Details: 1989-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % of Total
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 3 3.1%
VARIOUS 1 1.0%
Sub Total 4 4.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 1 1.0%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 4 4.1%
VARIOUS 26 27.0%
Sub Total 31 32.2%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 5 5.2%
VARIOUS 12 12.5%
Sub Total 17 17.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT 1 1.0%
VARIOUS 2 2.0%
Sub Total 3 3.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 1.0%
Sub Total 1 1.0%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 1 1.0%
VANDALISM 1 1.0%
Sub Total 2 2.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 1.0%
UNKNOWN 2 2.0%
VARIOUS 35 36.4%
Sub Total 38 39.5%
Totals 96 100.0%
National, Hazardous Liquid, 1989-2008

National, Hazardous Liquid, Serious Incidents 1989-2008

Source Data

Year ALL OTHER CAUSES NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE EXCAVATION DAMAGE INCORRECT OPERATION OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE CORROSION MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
1989 3 0 2 1 0 0 0
1990 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
1991 3 0 1 2 0 0 0
1992 5 0 2 1 0 0 0
1993 2 0 1 2 0 0 0
1994 3 1 1 0 0 0 1
1995 2 0 1 2 0 0 1
1996 4 0 6 0 0 0 0
1997 1 0 3 0 0 0 0
1998 1 0 3 1 0 0 0
1999 4 0 1 3 0 1 0
2000 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
2001 4 0 2 0 0 0 0
2002 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2003 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
2004 0 0 1 0 0 1 1
2005 0 0 1 2 0 1 0
2006 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2007 1 0 2 1 1 0 0
2008 1 0 1 0 1 0 0
National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Serious Incident Details: 1989-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % of Total
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 3 3.1%
VARIOUS 1 1.0%
Sub Total 4 4.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 1 1.0%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 4 4.1%
VARIOUS 26 27.0%
Sub Total 31 32.2%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 5 5.2%
VARIOUS 12 12.5%
Sub Total 17 17.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT 1 1.0%
VARIOUS 2 2.0%
Sub Total 3 3.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 1.0%
Sub Total 1 1.0%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 1 1.0%
VANDALISM 1 1.0%
Sub Total 2 2.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 1.0%
UNKNOWN 2 2.0%
VARIOUS 35 36.4%
Sub Total 38 39.5%
Totals 96 100.0%
National, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 1989-2008

National, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, Serious Incidents 1989-2008

Source Data

Year ALL OTHER CAUSES NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE EXCAVATION DAMAGE INCORRECT OPERATION OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE CORROSION MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
1989 3 0 2 1 0 0 0
1990 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
1991 3 0 1 2 0 0 0
1992 5 0 2 1 0 0 0
1993 2 0 1 2 0 0 0
1994 3 1 1 0 0 0 1
1995 2 0 1 2 0 0 1
1996 4 0 6 0 0 0 0
1997 1 0 3 0 0 0 0
1998 1 0 3 1 0 0 0
1999 4 0 1 3 0 1 0
2000 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
2001 4 0 2 0 0 0 0
2002 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2003 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
2004 0 0 1 0 0 1 1
2005 0 0 1 2 0 1 0
2006 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2007 1 0 2 1 1 0 0
2008 1 0 1 0 1 0 0

No Data Available

National Gas Transmission: Serious Incident Details: 1989-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % of Total
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 2 1.3%
VARIOUS 4 2.7%
Sub Total 6 4.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 3 2.0%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 9 6.1%
VARIOUS 40 27.2%
Sub Total 52 35.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 7 4.7%
Sub Total 7 4.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT 1 0.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 0.6%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 2 1.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 3 2.0%
VARIOUS 11 7.4%
Sub Total 18 12.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 1.3%
Sub Total 2 1.3%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 5 3.4%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 0.6%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 1 0.6%
Sub Total 7 4.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 3 2.0%
UNKNOWN 1 0.6%
VARIOUS 51 34.6%
Sub Total 55 37.4%
Totals 147 100.0%
National, Gas Transmission, 1989-2008

National, Gas Transmission, Serious Incidents 1989-2008

Source Data

Year ALL OTHER CAUSES NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE EXCAVATION DAMAGE INCORRECT OPERATION OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE CORROSION MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
1989 5 0 8 0 0 0 1
1990 5 0 3 0 0 1 3
1991 3 0 4 0 0 0 0
1992 6 0 3 0 0 0 1
1993 8 0 1 0 0 0 1
1994 1 1 5 0 0 1 2
1995 6 0 2 0 0 0 0
1996 3 0 2 0 0 1 0
1997 1 0 3 0 0 0 0
1998 4 1 3 0 0 0 3
1999 3 0 2 0 0 0 0
2000 2 0 4 0 0 1 0
2001 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
2002 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
2003 0 0 2 2 2 0 2
2004 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
2005 1 0 1 1 1 0 1
2006 1 0 3 1 2 0 0
2007 2 0 2 1 1 2 0
2008 0 0 1 2 1 0 1
National Gas Transmission Onshore: Serious Incident Details: 1989-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % of Total
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 2 1.3%
VARIOUS 4 2.7%
Sub Total 6 4.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 3 2.0%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 9 6.1%
VARIOUS 37 25.1%
Sub Total 49 33.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 7 4.7%
Sub Total 7 4.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT 1 0.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 0.6%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 2 1.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 3 2.0%
VARIOUS 11 7.4%
Sub Total 18 12.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 1.3%
Sub Total 2 1.3%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 5 3.4%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 0.6%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 1 0.6%
Sub Total 7 4.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 3 2.0%
UNKNOWN 1 0.6%
VARIOUS 49 33.3%
Sub Total 53 36.0%
Totals 142 96.6%
National, Gas Transmission Onshore, 1989-2008

National, Gas Transmission Onshore, Serious Incidents 1989-2008

Source Data

Year ALL OTHER CAUSES NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE EXCAVATION DAMAGE INCORRECT OPERATION OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE CORROSION MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
1989 5 0 6 0 0 0 1
1990 4 0 3 0 0 1 3
1991 3 0 4 0 0 0 0
1992 6 0 3 0 0 0 1
1993 8 0 1 0 0 0 1
1994 1 1 4 0 0 1 2
1995 5 0 2 0 0 0 0
1996 3 0 2 0 0 1 0
1997 1 0 3 0 0 0 0
1998 4 1 3 0 0 0 3
1999 3 0 2 0 0 0 0
2000 2 0 4 0 0 1 0
2001 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
2002 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
2003 0 0 2 2 2 0 2
2004 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
2005 1 0 1 1 1 0 1
2006 1 0 3 1 2 0 0
2007 2 0 2 1 1 2 0
2008 0 0 1 2 1 0 1
National Gas Transmission Offshore: Serious Incident Details: 1989-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % of Total
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 3 2.0%
Sub Total 3 2.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 2 1.3%
Sub Total 2 1.3%
Totals 5 3.4%
National, Gas Transmission Offshore, 1989-2008

National, Gas Transmission Offshore, Serious Incidents 1989-2008

Source Data

Year ALL OTHER CAUSES NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE EXCAVATION DAMAGE INCORRECT OPERATION OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE CORROSION MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
1989 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1990 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1994 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1995 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
National Gas Gathering: Serious Incident Details: 1989-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % of Total
CORROSION
VARIOUS 3 30.0%
Sub Total 3 30.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 20.0%
Sub Total 2 20.0%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 2 20.0%
Sub Total 2 20.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT 1 10.0%
VARIOUS 1 10.0%
Sub Total 2 20.0%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 1 10.0%
Sub Total 1 10.0%
Totals 10 100.0%
National, Gas Gathering, 1989-2008

National, Gas Gathering, Serious Incidents 1989-2008

Source Data

Year ALL OTHER CAUSES NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE EXCAVATION DAMAGE INCORRECT OPERATION OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE CORROSION MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
1991 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1992 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1993 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1995 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
2000 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2002 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
2004 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2005 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2006 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
National Gas Distribution: Serious Incident Details: 1989-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % of Total
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 7 0.8%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 1 0.1%
VARIOUS 43 4.9%
Sub Total 51 5.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 5 0.5%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 29 3.3%
VARIOUS 281 32.1%
Sub Total 315 36.0%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 13 1.4%
VARIOUS 66 7.5%
Sub Total 79 9.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 3 0.3%
COMPONENT 1 0.1%
JOINT 2 0.2%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 1 0.1%
VARIOUS 66 7.5%
Sub Total 73 8.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 3 0.3%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 1 0.1%
HIGH WINDS 2 0.2%
LIGHTNING 1 0.1%
TEMPERATURE 1 0.1%
VARIOUS 69 7.8%
Sub Total 77 8.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 23 2.6%
VANDALISM 3 0.3%
Sub Total 26 2.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 15 1.7%
UNKNOWN 34 3.8%
VARIOUS 204 23.3%
Sub Total 253 28.9%
Totals 874 100.0%
National, Gas Distribution, 1989-2008

National, Gas Distribution, Serious Incidents 1989-2008

Source Data

Year ALL OTHER CAUSES NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE EXCAVATION DAMAGE INCORRECT OPERATION OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE CORROSION MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
1989 23 8 24 6 0 3 3
1990 5 6 15 4 0 3 6
1991 13 6 20 4 0 5 5
1992 13 6 19 3 0 2 7
1993 14 4 16 7 0 5 5
1994 13 11 21 6 0 2 7
1995 9 3 19 6 0 3 3
1996 16 5 17 4 0 1 4
1997 15 4 13 3 0 3 3
1998 16 1 24 6 0 3 4
1999 11 3 22 5 0 5 6
2000 20 3 14 4 0 3 7
2001 5 3 15 3 0 3 1
2002 12 0 10 4 0 2 2
2003 14 3 29 1 1 0 3
2004 12 6 7 5 3 2 3
2005 7 2 6 4 8 1 1
2006 7 1 9 1 4 2 0
2007 15 1 9 0 5 1 1
2008 13 1 6 3 5 2 2

Notes

  1. Serious Incidents are those incidents reported by pipeline operators involving a fatality or injury requiring in-patient hospitalization.
  2. Gas Distribution incidents where fire/explosion was the primary cause of failure, such as a house fire that subsequently resulted in - but was not caused by - a distribution line failure are excluded from 2004 onward. This exclusion has not been applied in years prior to 2004 due to difficulty in identifying these types of events with the older report formats.
  3. PHMSA has gathered increasingly targeted incident cause data over time. As such, the available reportable categories of cause (eg: Internal/External Corrosion vs Corrosion in general) have increased over time. This report spans time periods over which the reportable cause categories have changed. The cause categories in this report should be taken as general and not specific for years prior to 2002 for Liquid and Gas Transmission, and prior to 2004 for Gas Distribution.

Sources

  1. PHMSA Hazardous Liquid Flagged Incidents File - October 14, 2009
  2. PHMSA Gas Transmission Flagged Incidents File - October 14, 2009
  3. PHMSA Gas Distribution Flagged Incidents File - October 14, 2009

See Pipeline Incidents and Mileage Reports for more pipeline safety reports.

Feedback | Information Highlights Directory | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Policy | ©2005-2009 PHMSA | PHMSA Home | Generated: 11/05/09 11:12:18 AM