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: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	20	7.2%	1	5	$3,898,472	2.3%
INTERNAL CORROSION	16	5.8%	0	0	$4,601,800	2.7%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	4	1.4%	0	2	$964,073	0.5%
Sub Total	40	14.5%	1	7	$9,464,346	5.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	2.1%	0	2	$2,385,884	1.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	66	24.0%	16	33	$37,533,018	22.2%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	0.7%	0	0	$429,210	0.2%
Sub Total	74	26.9%	16	35	$40,348,113	23.8%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	23	8.3%	0	15	$4,952,014	2.9%
Sub Total	23	8.3%	0	15	$4,952,014	2.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	3	1.0%	0	0	$6,821,151	4.0%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	12	4.3%	0	0	$3,890,631	2.3%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	7	2.5%	0	0	$148,572	0.0%
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	9	3.2%	0	2	$9,191,451	5.4%
Sub Total	31	11.2%	0	2	$20,051,807	11.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	4	1.4%	0	8	$1,192,545	0.7%
TEMPERATURE	2	0.7%	0	2	$66,032	0.0%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	3	1.0%	0	0	$5,672,186	3.3%
Sub Total	9	3.2%	0	10	$6,930,765	4.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	8	2.9%	1	0	$1,101,421	0.6%
Sub Total	8	2.9%	1	0	$1,101,421	0.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	90	32.7%	4	39	$86,065,466	50.9%
Sub Total	90	32.7%	4	39	$86,065,466	50.9%
Totals	275	100.0%	22	108	$168,913,935	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	14	9.5%	0	2	$3,127,213	2.7%
INTERNAL CORROSION	9	6.1%	0	0	$361,197	0.3%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.6%	0	0	$66,032	0.0%
Sub Total	24	16.3%	0	2	$3,554,443	3.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	4	2.7%	0	0	$2,253,819	1.9%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	21	14.2%	1	0	$12,110,349	10.7%
Sub Total	25	17.0%	1	0	$14,364,169	12.7%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	14	9.5%	0	4	$4,261,315	3.7%
Sub Total	14	9.5%	0	4	$4,261,315	3.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	3	2.0%	0	0	$6,821,151	6.0%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	12	8.1%	0	0	$3,890,631	3.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	7	4.7%	0	0	$148,572	0.1%
Sub Total	22	14.9%	0	0	$10,860,355	9.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	2	1.3%	0	0	$389,591	0.3%
Sub Total	2	1.3%	0	0	$389,591	0.3%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	60	40.8%	3	14	$79,666,873	70.4%
Sub Total	60	40.8%	3	14	$79,666,873	70.4%
Totals	147	100.0%	4	20	$113,096,748	100.0%

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National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	14	9.5%	0	2	$3,127,213	2.7%
INTERNAL CORROSION	9	6.1%	0	0	$361,197	0.3%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.6%	0	0	$66,032	0.0%
Sub Total	24	16.3%	0	2	$3,554,443	3.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	2.0%	0	0	$933,170	0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	21	14.2%	1	0	$12,110,349	10.7%
Sub Total	24	16.3%	1	0	$13,043,520	11.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	14	9.5%	0	4	$4,261,315	3.7%
Sub Total	14	9.5%	0	4	$4,261,315	3.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	3	2.0%	0	0	$6,821,151	6.0%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	12	8.1%	0	0	$3,890,631	3.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	7	4.7%	0	0	$148,572	0.1%
Sub Total	22	14.9%	0	0	$10,860,355	9.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	2	1.3%	0	0	$389,591	0.3%
Sub Total	2	1.3%	0	0	$389,591	0.3%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	56	38.1%	3	14	$78,507,344	69.4%
Sub Total	56	38.1%	3	14	$78,507,344	69.4%
Totals	142	96.6%	4	20	$110,616,570	97.8%

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National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	0.6%	0	0	$1,320,648	1.1%
Sub Total	1	0.6%	0	0	$1,320,648	1.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	4	2.7%	0	0	$1,159,529	1.0%
Sub Total	4	2.7%	0	0	$1,159,529	1.0%
Totals	5	3.4%	0	0	$2,480,178	2.1%

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• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	2	5.2%	0	0	$554,672	2.4%
INTERNAL CORROSION	6	15.7%	0	0	$3,910,441	17.4%
Sub Total	8	21.0%	0	0	$4,465,113	19.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	9	23.6%	1	2	$1,328,947	5.9%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	5.2%	0	0	$429,210	1.9%
Sub Total	11	28.9%	1	2	$1,758,158	7.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	6	15.7%	0	0	$8,630,176	38.4%
Sub Total	6	15.7%	0	0	$8,630,176	38.4%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	5.2%	0	0	$433,172	1.9%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	1	2.6%	0	0	$5,282,595	23.5%
Sub Total	3	7.8%	0	0	$5,715,768	25.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	10	26.3%	1	6	$1,869,708	8.3%
Sub Total	10	26.3%	1	6	$1,869,708	8.3%
Totals	38	100.0%	2	8	$22,438,925	100.0%

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National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	2	5.2%	0	0	$554,672	2.4%
INTERNAL CORROSION	3	7.8%	0	0	$3,052,019	13.6%
Sub Total	5	13.1%	0	0	$3,606,692	16.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	8	21.0%	1	2	$1,130,850	5.0%
UNSPECIFIED EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	5.2%	0	0	$429,210	1.9%
Sub Total	10	26.3%	1	2	$1,560,061	6.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	6	15.7%	0	0	$8,630,176	38.4%
Sub Total	6	15.7%	0	0	$8,630,176	38.4%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	5.2%	0	0	$433,172	1.9%
UNSPECIFIED NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE	1	2.6%	0	0	$5,282,595	23.5%
Sub Total	3	7.8%	0	0	$5,715,768	25.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	10	26.3%	1	6	$1,869,708	8.3%
Sub Total	10	26.3%	1	6	$1,869,708	8.3%
Totals	34	89.4%	2	8	$21,382,406	95.2%

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National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	3	7.8%	0	0	$858,421	3.8%
Sub Total	3	7.8%	0	0	$858,421	3.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	2.6%	0	0	$198,097	0.8%
Sub Total	1	2.6%	0	0	$198,097	0.8%
Totals	4	10.5%	0	0	$1,056,519	4.7%

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National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	1	50.0%	0	0	$330,162	77.0%
Sub Total	1	50.0%	0	0	$330,162	77.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	1	50.0%	0	0	$98,107	22.9%
Sub Total	1	50.0%	0	0	$98,107	22.9%
Totals	2	100.0%	0	0	$428,269	100.0%

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National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1999

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	4	4.5%	1	3	$216,586	0.6%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	3	3.4%	0	2	$898,041	2.7%
Sub Total	7	7.9%	1	5	$1,114,627	3.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	2.2%	0	2	$132,064	0.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	36	40.9%	14	31	$24,093,720	73.1%
Sub Total	38	43.1%	14	33	$24,225,785	73.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	9	10.2%	0	11	$690,699	2.1%
Sub Total	9	10.2%	0	11	$690,699	2.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	3	3.4%	0	2	$561,275	1.7%
Sub Total	3	3.4%	0	2	$561,275	1.7%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	2.2%	0	8	$759,373	2.3%
TEMPERATURE	2	2.2%	0	2	$66,032	0.2%
Sub Total	4	4.5%	0	10	$825,405	2.5%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	8	9.0%	1	0	$1,101,421	3.3%
Sub Total	8	9.0%	1	0	$1,101,421	3.3%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	19	21.5%	0	19	$4,430,776	13.4%
Sub Total	19	21.5%	0	19	$4,430,776	13.4%
Totals	88	100.0%	16	80	$32,949,991	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.