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State-specific information:

Significant Pipeline Incidents By Cause

This report is a sub-report of the Alabama Significant Incident and Mileage Overview 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)
Alabama All Pipeline Systems: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 2 5.0% 0 0 $934,847 12.7%
VARIOUS 1 2.5% 0 0 $259,274 3.5%
Sub Total 3 7.5% 0 0 $1,194,121 16.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 3 7.5% 0 0 $1,103,749 15.0%
VARIOUS 9 22.5% 6 9 $802,077 10.9%
Sub Total 12 30.0% 6 9 $1,905,827 25.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 3 7.5% 0 0 $127,649 1.7%
Sub Total 3 7.5% 0 0 $127,649 1.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 2.5% 0 0 $187,500 2.5%
BUTT WELD 2 5.0% 0 0 $1,575,943 21.4%
COMPONENT 2 5.0% 0 1 $585,847 7.9%
FILLET WELD 1 2.5% 0 0 $334,947 4.5%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 2.5% 0 0 $143,612 1.9%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 2 5.0% 0 1 $249,125 3.3%
VARIOUS 1 2.5% 0 0 $98,782 1.3%
Sub Total 10 25.0% 0 2 $3,175,758 43.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
LIGHTNING 3 7.5% 0 0 $129,146 1.7%
Sub Total 3 7.5% 0 0 $129,146 1.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 1 2.5% 0 1 $36,346 0.4%
Sub Total 1 2.5% 0 1 $36,346 0.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 2 5.0% 0 0 $318,885 4.3%
UNKNOWN 2 5.0% 3 0 $197,356 2.6%
VARIOUS 4 10.0% 2 1 $264,380 3.6%
Sub Total 8 20.0% 5 1 $780,622 10.6%
Totals 40 100.0% 11 13 $7,349,472 100.0%
Export Table
Alabama, All Pipeline Systems, 1999-2008
Alabama Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 3 25.0% 0 0 $1,103,749 60.9%
Sub Total 3 25.0% 0 0 $1,103,749 60.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 3 25.0% 0 0 $127,649 7.0%
Sub Total 3 25.0% 0 0 $127,649 7.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 8.3% 0 0 $143,612 7.9%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 1 8.3% 0 0 $249,125 13.7%
Sub Total 2 16.6% 0 0 $392,738 21.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
LIGHTNING 3 25.0% 0 0 $129,146 7.1%
Sub Total 3 25.0% 0 0 $129,146 7.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 8.3% 0 0 $59,228 3.2%
Sub Total 1 8.3% 0 0 $59,228 3.2%
Totals 12 100.0% 0 0 $1,812,512 100.0%
Export Table
Alabama, Hazardous Liquid, 1999-2008
Alabama Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 3 25.0% 0 0 $1,103,749 60.9%
Sub Total 3 25.0% 0 0 $1,103,749 60.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 3 25.0% 0 0 $127,649 7.0%
Sub Total 3 25.0% 0 0 $127,649 7.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 8.3% 0 0 $143,612 7.9%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 1 8.3% 0 0 $249,125 13.7%
Sub Total 2 16.6% 0 0 $392,738 21.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
LIGHTNING 3 25.0% 0 0 $129,146 7.1%
Sub Total 3 25.0% 0 0 $129,146 7.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 8.3% 0 0 $59,228 3.2%
Sub Total 1 8.3% 0 0 $59,228 3.2%
Totals 12 100.0% 0 0 $1,812,512 100.0%
Export Table
Alabama, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 1999-2008

No Data Available

Alabama Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 2 18.1% 0 0 $934,847 23.0%
VARIOUS 1 9.0% 0 0 $259,274 6.3%
Sub Total 3 27.2% 0 0 $1,194,121 29.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 9.0% 0 0 $187,500 4.6%
BUTT WELD 2 18.1% 0 0 $1,575,943 38.8%
COMPONENT 1 9.0% 0 0 $585,847 14.4%
FILLET WELD 1 9.0% 0 0 $334,947 8.2%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 1 9.0% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 6 54.5% 0 1 $2,684,238 66.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 1 9.0% 0 1 $36,346 0.9%
Sub Total 1 9.0% 0 1 $36,346 0.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
UNKNOWN 1 9.0% 0 0 $141,268 3.4%
Sub Total 1 9.0% 0 0 $141,268 3.4%
Totals 11 100.0% 0 2 $4,055,975 100.0%
Export Table
Alabama, Gas Transmission, 1999-2008
Alabama Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 2 18.1% 0 0 $934,847 23.0%
VARIOUS 1 9.0% 0 0 $259,274 6.3%
Sub Total 3 27.2% 0 0 $1,194,121 29.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 9.0% 0 0 $187,500 4.6%
BUTT WELD 2 18.1% 0 0 $1,575,943 38.8%
FILLET WELD 1 9.0% 0 0 $334,947 8.2%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 1 9.0% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 5 45.4% 0 1 $2,098,390 51.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 1 9.0% 0 1 $36,346 0.9%
Sub Total 1 9.0% 0 1 $36,346 0.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
UNKNOWN 1 9.0% 0 0 $141,268 3.4%
Sub Total 1 9.0% 0 0 $141,268 3.4%
Totals 10 90.9% 0 2 $3,470,127 85.5%
Export Table
Alabama, Gas Transmission Onshore, 1999-2008
Alabama Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT 1 9.0% 0 0 $585,847 14.4%
Sub Total 1 9.0% 0 0 $585,847 14.4%
Totals 1 9.0% 0 0 $585,847 14.4%
Export Table
Alabama, Gas Transmission Offshore, 1999-2008

No Data Available

Alabama Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 9 52.9% 6 9 $802,077 54.1%
Sub Total 9 52.9% 6 9 $802,077 54.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT 1 5.8% 0 1 $0 0.0%
VARIOUS 1 5.8% 0 0 $98,782 6.6%
Sub Total 2 11.7% 0 1 $98,782 6.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 5.8% 0 0 $259,657 17.5%
UNKNOWN 1 5.8% 3 0 $56,087 3.7%
VARIOUS 4 23.5% 2 1 $264,380 17.8%
Sub Total 6 35.2% 5 1 $580,125 39.1%
Totals 17 100.0% 11 11 $1,480,984 100.0%
Export Table
Alabama, Gas Distribution, 1999-2008

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.

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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