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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: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 42 14.7% 0 2 $27,423,584 28.6%
Sub Total 42 14.7% 0 2 $27,423,584 28.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 89 31.3% 3 38 $23,337,339 24.3%
Sub Total 89 31.3% 3 38 $23,337,339 24.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 14 4.9% 0 7 $1,536,334 1.6%
Sub Total 14 4.9% 0 7 $1,536,334 1.6%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 43 15.1% 0 14 $16,156,128 16.8%
Sub Total 43 15.1% 0 14 $16,156,128 16.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 16 5.6% 4 5 $13,682,581 14.2%
Sub Total 16 5.6% 4 5 $13,682,581 14.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 80 28.1% 8 52 $13,676,007 14.2%
Sub Total 80 28.1% 8 52 $13,676,007 14.2%
Totals 284 100.0% 15 118 $95,811,975 100.0%
Export Table
National, All Pipeline Systems, 1992
National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 34 20.0% 0 0 $24,686,385 45.8%
Sub Total 34 20.0% 0 0 $24,686,385 45.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 49 28.8% 0 8 $10,931,554 20.3%
Sub Total 49 28.8% 0 8 $10,931,554 20.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 11 6.4% 0 2 $1,531,683 2.8%
Sub Total 11 6.4% 0 2 $1,531,683 2.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 29 17.0% 0 0 $8,421,927 15.6%
Sub Total 29 17.0% 0 0 $8,421,927 15.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 0.5% 0 0 $2,818,791 5.2%
Sub Total 1 0.5% 0 0 $2,818,791 5.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 46 27.0% 5 28 $5,435,198 10.1%
Sub Total 46 27.0% 5 28 $5,435,198 10.1%
Totals 170 100.0% 5 38 $53,825,541 100.0%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid, 1992
National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 34 20.0% 0 0 $24,686,385 45.8%
Sub Total 34 20.0% 0 0 $24,686,385 45.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 46 27.0% 0 8 $9,656,050 17.9%
Sub Total 46 27.0% 0 8 $9,656,050 17.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 11 6.4% 0 2 $1,531,683 2.8%
Sub Total 11 6.4% 0 2 $1,531,683 2.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 29 17.0% 0 0 $8,421,927 15.6%
Sub Total 29 17.0% 0 0 $8,421,927 15.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 45 26.4% 5 28 $5,082,849 9.4%
Sub Total 45 26.4% 5 28 $5,082,849 9.4%
Totals 165 97.0% 5 38 $49,378,896 91.7%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 1992
National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 3 1.7% 0 0 $1,275,503 2.3%
Sub Total 3 1.7% 0 0 $1,275,503 2.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 0.5% 0 0 $2,818,791 5.2%
Sub Total 1 0.5% 0 0 $2,818,791 5.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 1 0.5% 0 0 $352,348 0.6%
Sub Total 1 0.5% 0 0 $352,348 0.6%
Totals 5 2.9% 0 0 $4,446,644 8.2%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid Offshore, 1992
National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 6 14.2% 0 0 $2,314,380 7.2%
Sub Total 6 14.2% 0 0 $2,314,380 7.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 12 28.5% 2 3 $9,636,040 30.0%
Sub Total 12 28.5% 2 3 $9,636,040 30.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 5 11.9% 0 2 $6,687,583 20.8%
Sub Total 5 11.9% 0 2 $6,687,583 20.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 5 11.9% 0 0 $9,052,715 28.2%
Sub Total 5 11.9% 0 0 $9,052,715 28.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 14 33.3% 1 9 $4,379,063 13.6%
Sub Total 14 33.3% 1 9 $4,379,063 13.6%
Totals 42 100.0% 3 14 $32,069,783 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission, 1992
National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 5 11.9% 0 0 $1,015,762 3.1%
Sub Total 5 11.9% 0 0 $1,015,762 3.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 8 19.0% 2 3 $1,602,483 5.0%
Sub Total 8 19.0% 2 3 $1,602,483 5.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 3 7.1% 0 2 $6,342,281 19.7%
Sub Total 3 7.1% 0 2 $6,342,281 19.7%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 4.7% 0 0 $243,990 0.7%
Sub Total 2 4.7% 0 0 $243,990 0.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 14 33.3% 1 9 $4,379,063 13.6%
Sub Total 14 33.3% 1 9 $4,379,063 13.6%
Totals 32 76.1% 3 14 $13,583,582 42.3%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission Onshore, 1992
National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 1 2.3% 0 0 $1,298,617 4.0%
Sub Total 1 2.3% 0 0 $1,298,617 4.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 4 9.5% 0 0 $8,033,557 25.0%
Sub Total 4 9.5% 0 0 $8,033,557 25.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 2 4.7% 0 0 $345,302 1.0%
Sub Total 2 4.7% 0 0 $345,302 1.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 3 7.1% 0 0 $8,808,724 27.4%
Sub Total 3 7.1% 0 0 $8,808,724 27.4%
Totals 10 23.8% 0 0 $18,486,201 57.6%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission Offshore, 1992
National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 3 50.0% 0 1 $520,912 31.5%
Sub Total 3 50.0% 0 1 $520,912 31.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 2 33.3% 0 0 $990,241 59.9%
Sub Total 2 33.3% 0 0 $990,241 59.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 1 16.6% 0 0 $140,939 8.5%
Sub Total 1 16.6% 0 0 $140,939 8.5%
Totals 6 100.0% 0 1 $1,652,093 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Gathering, 1992
National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1992
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 2 3.0% 0 2 $422,818 5.1%
Sub Total 2 3.0% 0 2 $422,818 5.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 25 37.8% 1 26 $2,248,832 27.2%
Sub Total 25 37.8% 1 26 $2,248,832 27.2%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 3 4.5% 0 5 $4,651 0.0%
Sub Total 3 4.5% 0 5 $4,651 0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 7 10.6% 0 12 $56,375 0.6%
Sub Total 7 10.6% 0 12 $56,375 0.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 10 15.1% 4 5 $1,811,073 21.9%
Sub Total 10 15.1% 4 5 $1,811,073 21.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 19 28.7% 2 15 $3,720,805 45.0%
Sub Total 19 28.7% 2 15 $3,720,805 45.0%
Totals 66 100.0% 7 65 $8,264,557 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Distribution, 1992

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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