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Significant Pipeline Incidents By Cause

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

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

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: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 40 15.8% 1 6 $6,598,611 13.5%
Sub Total 40 15.8% 1 6 $6,598,611 13.5%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 75 29.6% 3 29 $12,875,934 26.4%
Sub Total 75 29.6% 3 29 $12,875,934 26.4%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 14 5.5% 1 3 $796,909 1.6%
Sub Total 14 5.5% 1 3 $796,909 1.6%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 42 16.6% 0 11 $9,588,422 19.6%
Sub Total 42 16.6% 0 11 $9,588,422 19.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 20 7.9% 1 6 $9,524,824 19.5%
Sub Total 20 7.9% 1 6 $9,524,824 19.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 62 24.5% 3 21 $9,327,926 19.1%
Sub Total 62 24.5% 3 21 $9,327,926 19.1%
Totals 253 100.0% 9 76 $48,712,628 100.0%
Export Table
National, All Pipeline Systems, 1990
National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 27 19.2% 0 0 $4,355,242 19.1%
Sub Total 27 19.2% 0 0 $4,355,242 19.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 34 24.2% 0 1 $5,818,526 25.5%
Sub Total 34 24.2% 0 1 $5,818,526 25.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 10 7.1% 0 0 $347,186 1.5%
Sub Total 10 7.1% 0 0 $347,186 1.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 26 18.5% 0 0 $7,320,996 32.1%
Sub Total 26 18.5% 0 0 $7,320,996 32.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 1.4% 0 0 $20,237 0.0%
Sub Total 2 1.4% 0 0 $20,237 0.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 41 29.2% 3 6 $4,925,071 21.6%
Sub Total 41 29.2% 3 6 $4,925,071 21.6%
Totals 140 100.0% 3 7 $22,787,261 100.0%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid, 1990
National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 27 19.2% 0 0 $4,355,242 19.1%
Sub Total 27 19.2% 0 0 $4,355,242 19.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 33 23.5% 0 1 $5,443,756 23.8%
Sub Total 33 23.5% 0 1 $5,443,756 23.8%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 10 7.1% 0 0 $347,186 1.5%
Sub Total 10 7.1% 0 0 $347,186 1.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 26 18.5% 0 0 $7,320,996 32.1%
Sub Total 26 18.5% 0 0 $7,320,996 32.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 1.4% 0 0 $20,237 0.0%
Sub Total 2 1.4% 0 0 $20,237 0.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 39 27.8% 3 6 $4,917,576 21.5%
Sub Total 39 27.8% 3 6 $4,917,576 21.5%
Totals 137 97.8% 3 7 $22,404,996 98.3%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 1990
National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 0.7% 0 0 $374,769 1.6%
Sub Total 1 0.7% 0 0 $374,769 1.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 2 1.4% 0 0 $7,495 0.0%
Sub Total 2 1.4% 0 0 $7,495 0.0%
Totals 3 2.1% 0 0 $382,264 1.6%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid Offshore, 1990
National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 10 21.7% 0 1 $2,243,368 14.6%
Sub Total 10 21.7% 0 1 $2,243,368 14.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 14 30.4% 0 4 $4,134,768 26.9%
Sub Total 14 30.4% 0 4 $4,134,768 26.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 8 17.3% 0 3 $1,629,568 10.6%
Sub Total 8 17.3% 0 3 $1,629,568 10.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 6 13.0% 0 0 $6,521,198 42.4%
Sub Total 6 13.0% 0 0 $6,521,198 42.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 8 17.3% 0 9 $822,438 5.3%
Sub Total 8 17.3% 0 9 $822,438 5.3%
Totals 46 100.0% 0 17 $15,351,343 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission, 1990
National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 5 10.8% 0 1 $1,124,307 7.3%
Sub Total 5 10.8% 0 1 $1,124,307 7.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 13 28.2% 0 4 $3,834,953 24.9%
Sub Total 13 28.2% 0 4 $3,834,953 24.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 5 10.8% 0 3 $942,618 6.1%
Sub Total 5 10.8% 0 3 $942,618 6.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 6 13.0% 0 0 $6,521,198 42.4%
Sub Total 6 13.0% 0 0 $6,521,198 42.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 7 15.2% 0 7 $822,438 5.3%
Sub Total 7 15.2% 0 7 $822,438 5.3%
Totals 36 78.2% 0 15 $13,245,516 86.2%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission Onshore, 1990
National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 5 10.8% 0 0 $1,119,060 7.2%
Sub Total 5 10.8% 0 0 $1,119,060 7.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 2.1% 0 0 $299,815 1.9%
Sub Total 1 2.1% 0 0 $299,815 1.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 3 6.5% 0 0 $686,950 4.4%
Sub Total 3 6.5% 0 0 $686,950 4.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 1 2.1% 0 2 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 1 2.1% 0 2 $0 0.0%
Totals 10 21.7% 0 2 $2,105,826 13.7%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission Offshore, 1990
National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 1 100.0% 0 0 $524,676 100.0%
Sub Total 1100.0% 0 0 $524,676100.0%
Totals 1 100.0% 0 0 $524,676 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Gathering, 1990
National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1990
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 3 4.5% 1 5 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 3 4.5% 1 5 $0 0.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 27 40.9% 3 24 $2,922,639 29.0%
Sub Total 27 40.9% 3 24 $2,922,639 29.0%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 4 6.0% 1 3 $449,723 4.4%
Sub Total 4 6.0% 1 3 $449,723 4.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 7 10.6% 0 8 $113,180 1.1%
Sub Total 7 10.6% 0 8 $113,180 1.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 12 18.1% 1 6 $2,983,387 29.6%
Sub Total 12 18.1% 1 6 $2,983,387 29.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 13 19.7% 0 6 $3,580,416 35.6%
Sub Total 13 19.7% 0 6 $3,580,416 35.6%
Totals 66 100.0% 6 52 $10,049,346 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Distribution, 1990

Notes

  1. Significant Incidents are those incidents reported by pipeline operators with any of the following conditions are met: 1) fatality or injury requiring in-patient hospitalization. 2) $50,000 or more in total costs, measured in 1984 dollars. 3) highly volatile liquid releases of 5 barrels or more or other liquid releases of 50 barrels or more. 4) liquid releases resulting in an unintentional fire or explosion. Note: Significant Incidents include all Serious Incidents. Unless otherwise noted, any counts of Significant Incidents also include Serious Incidents.
  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.
  4. The costs for incidents prior to 2008 are presented in 2008 dollars. Cost of Gas lost is indexed via the Energy Information Administration, Natural Gas City Gate Prices. All other costs are adjusted via the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Government Printing Office inflation values.
  5. For years 2002 and later, property damage is estimated as the sum of all public and private costs reported in the 30-day incident report. For years prior to 2002, accident report forms did not include a breakdown of public and private costs so property damage for these years is the reported total property damage field in the report. All costs prior to 2008 are expressed in 2008 dollars.
  6. Does not include 1,851 injuries that required medical treatment reported for the October, 1994 accidents that were caused by severe flooding near Houston, Texas.

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.

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