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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: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 44 15.0% 2 11 $7,947,313 9.0%
Sub Total 44 15.0% 2 11 $7,947,313 9.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 89 30.3% 9 33 $34,115,252 38.7%
Sub Total 89 30.3% 9 33 $34,115,252 38.7%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 18 6.1% 0 13 $1,061,091 1.2%
Sub Total 18 6.1% 0 13 $1,061,091 1.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 40 13.6% 0 7 $17,602,062 20.0%
Sub Total 40 13.6% 0 7 $17,602,062 20.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 24 8.1% 2 5 $12,389,907 14.0%
Sub Total 24 8.1% 2 5 $12,389,907 14.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 78 26.6% 4 42 $14,824,450 16.8%
Sub Total 78 26.6% 4 42 $14,824,450 16.8%
Totals 293 100.0% 17 111 $87,940,078 100.0%
Export Table
National, All Pipeline Systems, 1993
National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 28 18.1% 0 0 $3,685,586 9.6%
Sub Total 28 18.1% 0 0 $3,685,586 9.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 47 30.5% 0 1 $19,577,255 51.2%
Sub Total 47 30.5% 0 1 $19,577,255 51.2%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 11 7.1% 0 4 $899,849 2.3%
Sub Total 11 7.1% 0 4 $899,849 2.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 24 15.5% 0 0 $7,692,087 20.1%
Sub Total 24 15.5% 0 0 $7,692,087 20.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 5 3.2% 0 0 $313,780 0.8%
Sub Total 5 3.2% 0 0 $313,780 0.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 39 25.3% 0 5 $6,056,724 15.8%
Sub Total 39 25.3% 0 5 $6,056,724 15.8%
Totals 154 100.0% 0 10 $38,225,284 100.0%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid, 1993
National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 27 17.5% 0 0 $3,547,772 9.2%
Sub Total 27 17.5% 0 0 $3,547,772 9.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 46 29.8% 0 1 $18,222,543 47.6%
Sub Total 46 29.8% 0 1 $18,222,543 47.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 11 7.1% 0 4 $899,849 2.3%
Sub Total 11 7.1% 0 4 $899,849 2.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 24 15.5% 0 0 $7,692,087 20.1%
Sub Total 24 15.5% 0 0 $7,692,087 20.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 5 3.2% 0 0 $313,780 0.8%
Sub Total 5 3.2% 0 0 $313,780 0.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 39 25.3% 0 5 $6,056,724 15.8%
Sub Total 39 25.3% 0 5 $6,056,724 15.8%
Totals 152 98.7% 0 10 $36,732,759 96.1%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 1993
National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 1 0.6% 0 0 $137,813 0.3%
Sub Total 1 0.6% 0 0 $137,813 0.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 0.6% 0 0 $1,354,711 3.5%
Sub Total 1 0.6% 0 0 $1,354,711 3.5%
Totals 2 1.3% 0 0 $1,492,525 3.9%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid Offshore, 1993
National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 10 20.0% 0 0 $4,138,383 13.8%
Sub Total 10 20.0% 0 0 $4,138,383 13.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 6 12.0% 0 2 $4,644,331 15.5%
Sub Total 6 12.0% 0 2 $4,644,331 15.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 9 18.0% 0 1 $8,943,898 29.9%
Sub Total 9 18.0% 0 1 $8,943,898 29.9%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 6 12.0% 0 0 $7,106,554 23.8%
Sub Total 6 12.0% 0 0 $7,106,554 23.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 19 38.0% 1 13 $5,001,269 16.7%
Sub Total 19 38.0% 1 13 $5,001,269 16.7%
Totals 50 100.0% 1 16 $29,834,437 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission, 1993
National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 10 20.0% 0 0 $4,138,383 13.8%
Sub Total 10 20.0% 0 0 $4,138,383 13.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 4 8.0% 0 2 $509,911 1.7%
Sub Total 4 8.0% 0 2 $509,911 1.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 6 12.0% 0 1 $6,256,526 20.9%
Sub Total 6 12.0% 0 1 $6,256,526 20.9%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 6 12.0% 0 0 $7,106,554 23.8%
Sub Total 6 12.0% 0 0 $7,106,554 23.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 17 34.0% 1 13 $4,591,961 15.3%
Sub Total 17 34.0% 1 13 $4,591,961 15.3%
Totals 43 86.0% 1 16 $22,603,337 75.7%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission Onshore, 1993
National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 4.0% 0 0 $4,134,419 13.8%
Sub Total 2 4.0% 0 0 $4,134,419 13.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 3 6.0% 0 0 $2,687,372 9.0%
Sub Total 3 6.0% 0 0 $2,687,372 9.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 2 4.0% 0 0 $409,307 1.3%
Sub Total 2 4.0% 0 0 $409,307 1.3%
Totals 7 14.0% 0 0 $7,231,099 24.2%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission Offshore, 1993
National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 1 100.0% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 1100.0% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Totals 1 100.0% 0 1 $0 ***.*%
Export Table
National, Gas Gathering, 1993
National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1993
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 5 5.6% 2 10 $123,343 0.6%
Sub Total 5 5.6% 2 10 $123,343 0.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 36 40.9% 9 30 $9,893,666 49.7%
Sub Total 36 40.9% 9 30 $9,893,666 49.7%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 7 7.9% 0 9 $161,242 0.8%
Sub Total 7 7.9% 0 9 $161,242 0.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 7 7.9% 0 6 $966,076 4.8%
Sub Total 7 7.9% 0 6 $966,076 4.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 13 14.7% 2 5 $4,969,572 25.0%
Sub Total 13 14.7% 2 5 $4,969,572 25.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 20 22.7% 3 24 $3,766,456 18.9%
Sub Total 20 22.7% 3 24 $3,766,456 18.9%
Totals 88 100.0% 16 84 $19,880,356 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Distribution, 1993

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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