Pipeline Safety Stakeholder Communications

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: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	38	14.2%	1	4	$30,500,689	29.1%
INTERNAL CORROSION	20	7.4%	0	0	$6,450,132	6.1%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.3%	0	0	$2,708,442	2.5%
Sub Total	59	22.1%	1	4	$39,659,264	37.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	2.2%	0	1	$920,870	0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	61	22.8%	5	20	$16,648,511	15.9%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	4	1.5%	1	1	$6,229,417	5.9%
Sub Total	71	26.5%	6	22	$23,798,799	22.7%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	14	5.2%	1	6	$1,767,258	1.6%
Sub Total	14	5.2%	1	6	$1,767,258	1.6%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	10	3.7%	0	0	$3,017,340	2.8%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	3	1.1%	0	0	$308,077	0.2%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	7	2.6%	0	0	$70,716	0.0%
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	6	2.2%	0	12	$1,801,791	1.7%
Sub Total	26	9.7%	0	12	$5,197,924	4.9%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	10	3.7%	0	2	$2,562,863	2.4%
TEMPERATURE	3	1.1%	0	2	$210,175	0.2%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	3	1.1%	0	0	$1,212,027	1.1%
Sub Total	16	5.9%	0	4	$3,985,066	3.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FISHING OR MARITIME ACTIVITY	1	0.3%	0	0	$6,771,105	6.4%
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	2	0.7%	0	0	$331,784	0.3%
Sub Total	3	1.1%	0	0	$7,102,889	6.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	78	29.2%	2	29	$23,073,599	22.0%
Sub Total	78	29.2%	2	29	$23,073,599	22.0%
Totals	267	100.0%	10	77	$104,584,802	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	30	18.5%	0	0	$28,620,353	38.5%
INTERNAL CORROSION	15	9.2%	0	0	$5,563,117	7.4%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.6%	0	0	$2,708,442	3.6%
Sub Total	46	28.4%	0	0	$36,891,913	49.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	5	3.0%	0	1	$514,604	0.6%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	28	17.2%	0	3	$6,324,315	8.5%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	1.2%	0	0	$4,739,774	6.3%
Sub Total	35	21.6%	0	4	$11,578,693	15.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	10	6.1%	0	0	$1,767,190	2.3%
Sub Total	10	6.1%	0	0	$1,767,190	2.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	10	6.1%	0	0	$3,017,340	4.0%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	3	1.8%	0	0	$308,077	0.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	7	4.3%	0	0	$70,716	0.1%
Sub Total	20	12.3%	0	0	$3,396,133	4.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	1.2%	0	0	$1,232,341	1.6%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	2	1.2%	0	0	$704,195	0.9%
Sub Total	4	2.4%	0	0	$1,936,536	2.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FISHING OR MARITIME ACTIVITY	1	0.6%	0	0	$6,771,105	9.1%
Sub Total	1	0.6%	0	0	$6,771,105	9.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	46	28.4%	0	1	$11,985,046	16.1%
Sub Total	46	28.4%	0	1	$11,985,046	16.1%
Totals	162	100.0%	0	5	$74,326,620	100.0%

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National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	29	17.9%	0	0	$28,417,220	38.2%
INTERNAL CORROSION	14	8.6%	0	0	$5,259,771	7.0%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.6%	0	0	$2,708,442	3.6%
Sub Total	44	27.1%	0	0	$36,385,434	48.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	5	3.0%	0	1	$514,604	0.6%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	27	16.6%	0	3	$5,606,578	7.5%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	0.6%	0	0	$3,385,552	4.5%
Sub Total	33	20.3%	0	4	$9,506,735	12.7%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	10	6.1%	0	0	$1,767,190	2.3%
Sub Total	10	6.1%	0	0	$1,767,190	2.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	9	5.5%	0	0	$2,340,229	3.1%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	3	1.8%	0	0	$308,077	0.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	7	4.3%	0	0	$70,716	0.1%
Sub Total	19	11.7%	0	0	$2,719,022	3.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	1.2%	0	0	$1,232,341	1.6%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	2	1.2%	0	0	$704,195	0.9%
Sub Total	4	2.4%	0	0	$1,936,536	2.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	43	26.5%	0	1	$4,672,252	6.2%
Sub Total	43	26.5%	0	1	$4,672,252	6.2%
Totals	153	94.4%	0	5	$56,987,172	76.6%

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National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	0.6%	0	0	$203,133	0.2%
INTERNAL CORROSION	1	0.6%	0	0	$303,345	0.4%
Sub Total	2	1.2%	0	0	$506,478	0.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	0.6%	0	0	$717,737	0.9%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	0.6%	0	0	$1,354,221	1.8%
Sub Total	2	1.2%	0	0	$2,071,958	2.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	1	0.6%	0	0	$677,110	0.9%
Sub Total	1	0.6%	0	0	$677,110	0.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FISHING OR MARITIME ACTIVITY	1	0.6%	0	0	$6,771,105	9.1%
Sub Total	1	0.6%	0	0	$6,771,105	9.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	3	1.8%	0	0	$7,312,794	9.8%
Sub Total	3	1.8%	0	0	$7,312,794	9.8%
Totals	9	5.5%	0	0	$17,339,447	23.3%

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• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	5	15.1%	0	0	$1,670,431	11.7%
INTERNAL CORROSION	4	12.1%	0	0	$710,966	4.9%
Sub Total	9	27.2%	0	0	$2,381,397	16.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	3.0%	0	0	$406,266	2.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	8	24.2%	0	3	$1,888,752	13.2%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	6.0%	1	1	$1,489,643	10.4%
Sub Total	11	33.3%	1	4	$3,784,662	26.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	3	9.0%	0	0	$1,305,469	9.1%
Sub Total	3	9.0%	0	0	$1,305,469	9.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	3	9.0%	0	0	$690,652	4.8%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	1	3.0%	0	0	$507,832	3.5%
Sub Total	4	12.1%	0	0	$1,198,485	8.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	6	18.1%	0	1	$5,579,580	39.1%
Sub Total	6	18.1%	0	1	$5,579,580	39.1%
Totals	33	100.0%	1	5	$14,249,595	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	4	12.1%	0	0	$1,399,587	9.8%
INTERNAL CORROSION	2	6.0%	0	0	$372,410	2.6%
Sub Total	6	18.1%	0	0	$1,771,998	12.4%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	3.0%	0	0	$406,266	2.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	5	15.1%	0	3	$568,386	3.9%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	6.0%	1	1	$1,489,643	10.4%
Sub Total	8	24.2%	1	4	$2,464,296	17.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	3	9.0%	0	0	$1,305,469	9.1%
Sub Total	3	9.0%	0	0	$1,305,469	9.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	6.0%	0	0	$589,086	4.1%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	1	3.0%	0	0	$507,832	3.5%
Sub Total	3	9.0%	0	0	$1,096,919	7.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	6	18.1%	0	1	$5,579,580	39.1%
Sub Total	6	18.1%	0	1	$5,579,580	39.1%
Totals	26	78.7%	1	5	$12,218,264	85.7%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	3.0%	0	0	$270,844	1.9%
INTERNAL CORROSION	2	6.0%	0	0	$338,555	2.3%
Sub Total	3	9.0%	0	0	$609,399	4.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	9.0%	0	0	$1,320,365	9.2%
Sub Total	3	9.0%	0	0	$1,320,365	9.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	3.0%	0	0	$101,566	0.7%
Sub Total	1	3.0%	0	0	$101,566	0.7%
Totals	7	21.2%	0	0	$2,031,331	14.2%

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National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	1	33.3%	0	0	$176,048	30.9%
Sub Total	1	33.3%	0	0	$176,048	30.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	33.3%	0	0	$270,844	47.6%
Sub Total	1	33.3%	0	0	$270,844	47.6%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	1	33.3%	0	0	$121,879	21.4%
Sub Total	1	33.3%	0	0	$121,879	21.4%
Totals	3	100.0%	0	0	$568,772	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1997

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	3	4.3%	1	4	$209,904	1.3%
Sub Total	3	4.3%	1	4	$209,904	1.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	24	34.7%	5	14	$8,164,599	52.8%
Sub Total	24	34.7%	5	14	$8,164,599	52.8%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	4	5.8%	1	6	$67	0.0%
Sub Total	4	5.8%	1	6	$67	0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	2	2.9%	0	12	$374,442	2.4%
Sub Total	2	2.9%	0	12	$374,442	2.4%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	5	7.2%	0	2	$639,869	4.1%
TEMPERATURE	3	4.3%	0	2	$210,175	1.3%
Sub Total	8	11.5%	0	4	$850,044	5.5%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	2	2.9%	0	0	$331,784	2.1%
Sub Total	2	2.9%	0	0	$331,784	2.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	26	37.6%	2	27	$5,508,971	35.6%
Sub Total	26	37.6%	2	27	$5,508,971	35.6%
Totals	69	100.0%	9	67	$15,439,813	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 - April 30, 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.