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: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	25	8.4%	1	3	$5,634,300	3.4%
INTERNAL CORROSION	30	10.1%	0	0	$25,164,051	15.2%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.3%	0	0	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	56	18.9%	1	3	$30,798,351	18.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	9	3.0%	0	4	$4,727,915	2.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	69	23.3%	13	34	$42,609,167	25.7%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	2.3%	1	0	$5,378,867	3.2%
Sub Total	85	28.8%	14	38	$52,715,950	31.8%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	12	4.0%	1	7	$194,324	0.1%
Sub Total	12	4.0%	1	7	$194,324	0.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	7	2.3%	0	0	$6,705,009	4.0%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	6	2.0%	0	0	$2,234,567	1.3%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	9	3.0%	0	0	$97,672	0.0%
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	17	5.7%	1	8	$3,734,128	2.2%
Sub Total	39	13.2%	1	8	$12,771,379	7.7%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	9	3.0%	0	0	$6,061,069	3.6%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	3	1.0%	0	0	$12,978,449	7.8%
TEMPERATURE	1	0.3%	0	0	$80,279	0.0%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	4	1.3%	0	1	$6,930,759	4.1%
Sub Total	17	5.7%	0	1	$26,050,558	15.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	10	3.3%	0	1	$2,876,666	1.7%
Sub Total	10	3.3%	0	1	$2,876,666	1.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	76	25.7%	4	23	$39,982,151	24.1%
Sub Total	76	25.7%	4	23	$39,982,151	24.1%
Totals	295	100.0%	21	81	$165,389,383	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	16	11.4%	0	0	$3,474,745	4.1%
INTERNAL CORROSION	17	12.1%	0	0	$20,880,493	24.8%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.7%	0	0	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	34	24.2%	0	0	$24,355,239	28.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	8	5.7%	0	4	$713,961	0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	17	12.1%	0	1	$18,659,456	22.2%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	5.0%	1	0	$5,378,867	6.4%
Sub Total	32	22.8%	1	5	$24,752,286	29.4%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	6	4.2%	1	0	$194,324	0.2%
Sub Total	6	4.2%	1	0	$194,324	0.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	7	5.0%	0	0	$6,705,009	7.9%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	6	4.2%	0	0	$2,234,567	2.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	9	6.4%	0	0	$97,672	0.1%
Sub Total	22	15.7%	0	0	$9,037,250	10.7%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	3	2.1%	0	0	$12,978,449	15.4%
TEMPERATURE	1	0.7%	0	0	$80,279	0.1%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	3	2.1%	0	0	$1,578,821	1.8%
Sub Total	7	5.0%	0	0	$14,637,550	17.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	39	27.8%	0	1	$11,092,156	13.1%
Sub Total	39	27.8%	0	1	$11,092,156	13.1%
Totals	140	100.0%	2	6	$84,068,807	100.0%

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National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	16	11.4%	0	0	$3,474,745	4.1%
INTERNAL CORROSION	14	10.0%	0	0	$20,595,503	24.5%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.7%	0	0	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	31	22.1%	0	0	$24,070,248	28.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	8	5.7%	0	4	$713,961	0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	16	11.4%	0	1	$18,370,527	21.8%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	4.2%	1	0	$5,378,867	6.4%
Sub Total	30	21.4%	1	5	$24,463,356	29.1%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	6	4.2%	1	0	$194,324	0.2%
Sub Total	6	4.2%	1	0	$194,324	0.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	7	5.0%	0	0	$6,705,009	7.9%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	6	4.2%	0	0	$2,234,567	2.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	9	6.4%	0	0	$97,672	0.1%
Sub Total	22	15.7%	0	0	$9,037,250	10.7%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	0.7%	0	0	$267,596	0.3%
TEMPERATURE	1	0.7%	0	0	$80,279	0.1%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	2	1.4%	0	0	$1,204,186	1.4%
Sub Total	4	2.8%	0	0	$1,552,062	1.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	38	27.1%	0	1	$10,423,164	12.4%
Sub Total	38	27.1%	0	1	$10,423,164	12.4%
Totals	131	93.5%	2	6	$69,740,406	82.9%

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National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	3	2.1%	0	0	$284,990	0.3%
Sub Total	3	2.1%	0	0	$284,990	0.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	0.7%	0	0	$288,929	0.3%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	0.7%	0	0	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	2	1.4%	0	0	$288,929	0.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	1.4%	0	0	$12,710,852	15.1%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	1	0.7%	0	0	$374,635	0.4%
Sub Total	3	2.1%	0	0	$13,085,488	15.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	1	0.7%	0	0	$668,992	0.8%
Sub Total	1	0.7%	0	0	$668,992	0.8%
Totals	9	6.4%	0	0	$14,328,401	17.0%

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• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	4	7.8%	0	0	$1,222,966	2.2%
INTERNAL CORROSION	9	17.6%	0	0	$2,711,425	5.0%
Sub Total	13	25.4%	0	0	$3,934,391	7.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.9%	0	0	$4,013,953	7.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	11	21.5%	1	2	$8,655,552	16.0%
Sub Total	12	23.5%	1	2	$12,669,506	23.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	11	21.5%	0	4	$2,796,870	5.1%
Sub Total	11	21.5%	0	4	$2,796,870	5.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	3.9%	0	0	$5,084,341	9.4%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	1	1.9%	0	1	$5,351,937	9.9%
Sub Total	3	5.8%	0	1	$10,436,279	19.3%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	12	23.5%	0	4	$24,149,750	44.7%
Sub Total	12	23.5%	0	4	$24,149,750	44.7%
Totals	51	100.0%	1	11	$53,986,797	100.0%

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National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	3	5.8%	0	0	$952,693	1.7%
INTERNAL CORROSION	5	9.8%	0	0	$1,992,927	3.6%
Sub Total	8	15.6%	0	0	$2,945,621	5.4%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	9	17.6%	1	2	$4,795,467	8.8%
Sub Total	9	17.6%	1	2	$4,795,467	8.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	8	15.6%	0	4	$1,994,079	3.6%
Sub Total	8	15.6%	0	4	$1,994,079	3.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	3.9%	0	0	$5,084,341	9.4%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	1	1.9%	0	1	$5,351,937	9.9%
Sub Total	3	5.8%	0	1	$10,436,279	19.3%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	12	23.5%	0	4	$24,149,750	44.7%
Sub Total	12	23.5%	0	4	$24,149,750	44.7%
Totals	40	78.4%	1	11	$44,321,198	82.1%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	1.9%	0	0	$270,272	0.5%
INTERNAL CORROSION	4	7.8%	0	0	$718,497	1.3%
Sub Total	5	9.8%	0	0	$988,770	1.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.9%	0	0	$4,013,953	7.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	3.9%	0	0	$3,860,085	7.1%
Sub Total	3	5.8%	0	0	$7,874,038	14.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	3	5.8%	0	0	$802,790	1.4%
Sub Total	3	5.8%	0	0	$802,790	1.4%
Totals	11	21.5%	0	0	$9,665,599	17.9%

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National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	14.2%	0	0	$434,844	12.0%
INTERNAL CORROSION	4	57.1%	0	0	$1,572,131	43.5%
Sub Total	5	71.4%	0	0	$2,006,976	55.5%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	14.2%	0	0	$802,790	22.2%
Sub Total	1	14.2%	0	0	$802,790	22.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	1	14.2%	0	0	$802,790	22.2%
Sub Total	1	14.2%	0	0	$802,790	22.2%
Totals	7	100.0%	0	0	$3,612,558	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1998

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	4	4.1%	1	3	$501,744	2.1%
Sub Total	4	4.1%	1	3	$501,744	2.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	40	41.2%	12	31	$14,491,367	61.0%
Sub Total	40	41.2%	12	31	$14,491,367	61.0%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	6	6.1%	0	7	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	6	6.1%	0	7	$0	0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	5	5.1%	1	4	$134,467	0.5%
Sub Total	5	5.1%	1	4	$134,467	0.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	7	7.2%	0	0	$976,728	4.1%
Sub Total	7	7.2%	0	0	$976,728	4.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	10	10.3%	0	1	$2,876,666	12.1%
Sub Total	10	10.3%	0	1	$2,876,666	12.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	25	25.7%	4	18	$4,740,244	19.9%
Sub Total	25	25.7%	4	18	$4,740,244	19.9%
Totals	97	100.0%	18	64	$23,721,219	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.