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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 Flagged Incident File. (1)

More Pipeline Incidents and Mileage Reports are available.

• All Pipeline Systems
• Hazardous Liquid
• Gas Transmission
• Gas Gathering
• Gas Distribution

National All Pipeline Systems: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	24	9.2%	1	2	$4,325,509	6.0%
INTERNAL CORROSION	14	5.4%	0	1	$1,790,504	2.5%
Sub Total	38	14.6%	1	3	$6,116,013	8.5%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	10	3.8%	0	3	$8,951,602	12.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	64	24.7%	4	26	$15,138,027	21.1%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	1.1%	0	0	$1,112,219	1.5%
Sub Total	77	29.7%	4	29	$25,201,849	35.1%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	32	12.3%	1	11	$2,729,712	3.8%
Sub Total	32	12.3%	1	11	$2,729,712	3.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	13	5.0%	0	2	$5,269,421	7.3%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	6	2.3%	0	0	$385,938	0.5%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	3	1.1%	0	0	$714,102	1.0%
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	9	3.4%	0	3	$3,416,704	4.7%
Sub Total	31	11.9%	0	5	$9,786,167	13.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	9	3.4%	0	3	$3,383,352	4.7%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	0.7%	0	0	$14,055,113	19.6%
TEMPERATURE	2	0.7%	0	0	$940,892	1.3%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	11	4.2%	0	0	$4,257,891	5.9%
Sub Total	24	9.2%	0	3	$22,637,249	31.5%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	2	0.7%	2	0	$353,888	0.4%
Sub Total	2	0.7%	2	0	$353,888	0.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	55	21.2%	13	13	$4,863,525	6.7%
Sub Total	55	21.2%	13	13	$4,863,525	6.7%
Totals	259	100.0%	21	64	$71,688,405	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	20	12.8%	0	0	$1,824,419	4.1%
INTERNAL CORROSION	12	7.6%	0	0	$1,459,086	3.2%
Sub Total	32	20.5%	0	0	$3,283,505	7.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	4.4%	0	0	$8,811,170	19.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	25	16.0%	0	4	$4,442,179	9.9%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	1.9%	0	0	$1,112,219	2.5%
Sub Total	35	22.4%	0	4	$14,365,569	32.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	24	15.3%	0	2	$1,199,006	2.7%
Sub Total	24	15.3%	0	2	$1,199,006	2.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	13	8.3%	0	2	$5,269,421	11.8%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	6	3.8%	0	0	$385,938	0.8%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	3	1.9%	0	0	$714,102	1.6%
Sub Total	22	14.1%	0	2	$6,369,462	14.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	1.2%	0	0	$14,055,113	31.6%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	8	5.1%	0	0	$2,644,330	5.9%
Sub Total	10	6.4%	0	0	$16,699,443	37.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	33	21.1%	3	3	$2,531,656	5.7%
Sub Total	33	21.1%	3	3	$2,531,656	5.7%
Totals	156	100.0%	3	11	$44,448,643	100.0%

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National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	20	12.8%	0	0	$1,824,419	4.1%
INTERNAL CORROSION	12	7.6%	0	0	$1,459,086	3.2%
Sub Total	32	20.5%	0	0	$3,283,505	7.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	4.4%	0	0	$8,811,170	19.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	25	16.0%	0	4	$4,442,179	9.9%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	1.2%	0	0	$831,356	1.8%
Sub Total	34	21.7%	0	4	$14,084,706	31.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	24	15.3%	0	2	$1,199,006	2.7%
Sub Total	24	15.3%	0	2	$1,199,006	2.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	13	8.3%	0	2	$5,269,421	11.8%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	6	3.8%	0	0	$385,938	0.8%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	3	1.9%	0	0	$714,102	1.6%
Sub Total	22	14.1%	0	2	$6,369,462	14.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	1.2%	0	0	$14,055,113	31.6%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	8	5.1%	0	0	$2,644,330	5.9%
Sub Total	10	6.4%	0	0	$16,699,443	37.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	32	20.5%	3	3	$1,829,497	4.1%
Sub Total	32	20.5%	3	3	$1,829,497	4.1%
Totals	154	98.7%	3	11	$43,465,620	97.7%

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National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	0.6%	0	0	$280,863	0.6%
Sub Total	1	0.6%	0	0	$280,863	0.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	1	0.6%	0	0	$702,158	1.5%
Sub Total	1	0.6%	0	0	$702,158	1.5%
Totals	2	1.2%	0	0	$983,022	2.2%

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• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	3.1%	0	0	$2,457,555	18.8%
INTERNAL CORROSION	1	3.1%	0	0	$317,375	2.4%
Sub Total	2	6.2%	0	0	$2,774,931	21.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	8	25.0%	0	2	$2,470,194	18.9%
Sub Total	8	25.0%	0	2	$2,470,194	18.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	7	21.8%	0	0	$3,416,704	26.1%
Sub Total	7	21.8%	0	0	$3,416,704	26.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	3	9.3%	0	0	$1,712,214	13.1%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	3	9.3%	0	0	$1,613,560	12.3%
Sub Total	6	18.7%	0	0	$3,325,775	25.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	9	28.1%	2	5	$1,074,302	8.2%
Sub Total	9	28.1%	2	5	$1,074,302	8.2%
Totals	32	100.0%	2	7	$13,061,909	100.0%

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National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	3.1%	0	0	$2,457,555	18.8%
Sub Total	1	3.1%	0	0	$2,457,555	18.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	5	15.6%	0	2	$1,697,820	13.0%
Sub Total	5	15.6%	0	2	$1,697,820	13.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	5	15.6%	0	0	$2,707,524	20.7%
Sub Total	5	15.6%	0	0	$2,707,524	20.7%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	6.2%	0	0	$335,982	2.5%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	2	6.2%	0	0	$1,220,352	9.3%
Sub Total	4	12.5%	0	0	$1,556,335	11.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	7	21.8%	0	5	$709,180	5.4%
Sub Total	7	21.8%	0	5	$709,180	5.4%
Totals	22	68.7%	0	7	$9,128,415	69.8%

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National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	1	3.1%	0	0	$317,375	2.4%
Sub Total	1	3.1%	0	0	$317,375	2.4%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	9.3%	0	0	$772,374	5.9%
Sub Total	3	9.3%	0	0	$772,374	5.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	2	6.2%	0	0	$709,180	5.4%
Sub Total	2	6.2%	0	0	$709,180	5.4%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	3.1%	0	0	$1,376,231	10.5%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	1	3.1%	0	0	$393,208	3.0%
Sub Total	2	6.2%	0	0	$1,769,440	13.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	2	6.2%	2	0	$365,122	2.8%
Sub Total	2	6.2%	2	0	$365,122	2.8%
Totals	10	31.2%	2	0	$3,933,493	30.1%

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National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	1	33.3%	0	1	$14,043	8.3%
Sub Total	1	33.3%	0	1	$14,043	8.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	1	33.3%	0	2	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	1	33.3%	0	2	$0	0.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	1	33.3%	0	0	$154,474	91.6%
Sub Total	1	33.3%	0	0	$154,474	91.6%
Totals	3	100.0%	0	3	$168,518	100.0%

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National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1995

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	3	4.4%	1	2	$43,533	0.3%
Sub Total	3	4.4%	1	2	$43,533	0.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	4.4%	0	3	$140,431	1.0%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	31	45.5%	4	20	$8,225,652	58.7%
Sub Total	34	50.0%	4	23	$8,366,084	59.7%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	8	11.7%	1	9	$1,530,706	10.9%
Sub Total	8	11.7%	1	9	$1,530,706	10.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	1	1.4%	0	1	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	1	1.4%	0	1	$0	0.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	6	8.8%	0	3	$1,671,137	11.9%
TEMPERATURE	2	2.9%	0	0	$940,892	6.7%
Sub Total	8	11.7%	0	3	$2,612,030	18.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	2	2.9%	2	0	$353,888	2.5%
Sub Total	2	2.9%	2	0	$353,888	2.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	12	17.6%	8	5	$1,103,091	7.8%
Sub Total	12	17.6%	8	5	$1,103,091	7.8%
Totals	68	100.0%	16	43	$14,009,335	100.0%

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Notes

1. Significant Incidents are those incidents reported by pipeline operators when 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. Serious incidents, a subset of Significant Incidents, are incidents which involve a fatality or injury requiring in-patient hospitalization.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The costs for incidents prior to 2012 are presented in 2012 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.

Sources

1. PHMSA Flagged Incidents File - May 31, 2013. Note: Incidents occurring up to 30 days prior the Incident File source date may not appear in these reports due to the 30-day reporting period allowed by PHMSA regulation.

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