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Significant Pipeline Incidents By Cause

This report is a sub-report of the California 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)
California 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 17 9.0% 0 0 $33,620,954 31.0%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 6 3.2% 0 1 $4,850,111 4.4%
VARIOUS 2 1.0% 0 0 $726,553 0.6%
Sub Total 25 13.3% 0 1 $39,197,620 36.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 5 2.6% 0 1 $1,593,348 1.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 23 12.3% 6 5 $6,911,155 6.3%
VARIOUS 24 12.8% 2 3 $6,666,717 6.1%
Sub Total 52 27.8% 8 9 $15,171,221 14.0%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 10 5.3% 0 2 $916,634 0.8%
VARIOUS 4 2.1% 0 1 $390,908 0.3%
Sub Total 14 7.4% 0 3 $1,307,543 1.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 3 1.6% 0 0 $4,267,088 3.9%
COMPONENT 4 2.1% 0 1 $1,042,851 0.9%
FILLET WELD 2 1.0% 0 0 $880,529 0.8%
JOINT 3 1.6% 0 0 $691,012 0.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 5 2.6% 0 0 $1,399,824 1.2%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 0.5% 0 0 $175,420 0.1%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 5 2.6% 0 0 $1,940,132 1.7%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 3 1.6% 0 0 $212,143 0.2%
VARIOUS 6 3.2% 0 0 $2,010,805 1.8%
Sub Total 32 17.1% 0 1 $12,619,810 11.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 4 2.1% 0 0 $16,147,749 14.9%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 3 1.6% 0 0 $2,819,722 2.6%
TEMPERATURE 1 0.5% 0 0 $112,112 0.1%
VARIOUS 3 1.6% 0 0 $492,210 0.4%
Sub Total 11 5.8% 0 0 $19,571,794 18.0%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 10 5.3% 0 2 $1,709,128 1.5%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 0.5% 0 0 $298,214 0.2%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 3 1.6% 0 0 $8,485,970 7.8%
Sub Total 14 7.4% 0 2 $10,493,312 9.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 19 10.1% 0 4 $3,207,298 2.9%
UNKNOWN 2 1.0% 1 4 $61,462 0.0%
VARIOUS 18 9.6% 1 4 $6,686,355 6.1%
Sub Total 39 20.8% 2 12 $9,955,117 9.1%
Totals 187 100.0% 10 28 $108,316,419 100.0%
Export Table
California, All Pipeline Systems, 1999-2008
California Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 14 14.5% 0 0 $30,068,431 36.1%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 5 5.2% 0 0 $4,395,695 5.2%
VARIOUS 2 2.0% 0 0 $726,553 0.8%
Sub Total 21 21.8% 0 0 $35,190,680 42.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 4 4.1% 0 0 $1,592,307 1.9%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 9 9.3% 5 3 $3,700,986 4.4%
VARIOUS 3 3.1% 0 0 $1,474,026 1.7%
Sub Total 16 16.6% 5 3 $6,767,320 8.1%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 7 7.2% 0 0 $786,932 0.9%
VARIOUS 2 2.0% 0 0 $190,424 0.2%
Sub Total 9 9.3% 0 0 $977,356 1.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 1.0% 0 0 $3,368,765 4.0%
COMPONENT 3 3.1% 0 0 $1,042,480 1.2%
FILLET WELD 1 1.0% 0 0 $530,180 0.6%
JOINT 2 2.0% 0 0 $576,594 0.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 2 2.0% 0 0 $271,643 0.3%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 1.0% 0 0 $175,420 0.2%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 5 5.2% 0 0 $1,940,132 2.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 3 3.1% 0 0 $212,143 0.2%
VARIOUS 6 6.2% 0 0 $2,010,805 2.4%
Sub Total 24 25.0% 0 0 $10,128,165 12.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 2 2.0% 0 0 $15,541,809 18.6%
Sub Total 2 2.0% 0 0 $15,541,809 18.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 1.0% 0 0 $298,214 0.3%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 3 3.1% 0 0 $8,485,970 10.2%
Sub Total 4 4.1% 0 0 $8,784,184 10.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 9 9.3% 0 1 $1,713,340 2.0%
VARIOUS 11 11.4% 0 1 $4,069,831 4.8%
Sub Total 20 20.8% 0 2 $5,783,172 6.9%
Totals 96 100.0% 5 5 $83,172,690 100.0%
Export Table
California, Hazardous Liquid, 1999-2008
California Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 14 14.5% 0 0 $30,068,431 36.1%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 5 5.2% 0 0 $4,395,695 5.2%
VARIOUS 2 2.0% 0 0 $726,553 0.8%
Sub Total 21 21.8% 0 0 $35,190,680 42.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 4 4.1% 0 0 $1,592,307 1.9%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 9 9.3% 5 3 $3,700,986 4.4%
VARIOUS 3 3.1% 0 0 $1,474,026 1.7%
Sub Total 16 16.6% 5 3 $6,767,320 8.1%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 7 7.2% 0 0 $786,932 0.9%
VARIOUS 2 2.0% 0 0 $190,424 0.2%
Sub Total 9 9.3% 0 0 $977,356 1.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 1.0% 0 0 $3,368,765 4.0%
COMPONENT 3 3.1% 0 0 $1,042,480 1.2%
FILLET WELD 1 1.0% 0 0 $530,180 0.6%
JOINT 2 2.0% 0 0 $576,594 0.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 2 2.0% 0 0 $271,643 0.3%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 1.0% 0 0 $175,420 0.2%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 5 5.2% 0 0 $1,940,132 2.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 3 3.1% 0 0 $212,143 0.2%
VARIOUS 6 6.2% 0 0 $2,010,805 2.4%
Sub Total 24 25.0% 0 0 $10,128,165 12.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 2 2.0% 0 0 $15,541,809 18.6%
Sub Total 2 2.0% 0 0 $15,541,809 18.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 1.0% 0 0 $298,214 0.3%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 3 3.1% 0 0 $8,485,970 10.2%
Sub Total 4 4.1% 0 0 $8,784,184 10.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 9 9.3% 0 1 $1,713,340 2.0%
VARIOUS 11 11.4% 0 1 $4,069,831 4.8%
Sub Total 20 20.8% 0 2 $5,783,172 6.9%
Totals 96 100.0% 5 5 $83,172,690 100.0%
Export Table
California, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 1999-2008

No Data Available

California 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 8.7% 0 0 $3,408,583 30.2%
Sub Total 2 8.7% 0 0 $3,408,583 30.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 6 26.0% 1 2 $1,858,693 16.5%
VARIOUS 5 21.7% 0 0 $848,703 7.5%
Sub Total 11 47.8% 1 2 $2,707,397 24.0%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 1 4.3% 0 0 $127,701 1.1%
Sub Total 1 4.3% 0 0 $127,701 1.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
FILLET WELD 1 4.3% 0 0 $350,349 3.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 2 8.7% 0 0 $903,830 8.0%
Sub Total 3 13.0% 0 0 $1,254,179 11.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 1 4.3% 0 0 $381,589 3.3%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 2 8.7% 0 0 $2,689,062 23.8%
Sub Total 3 13.0% 0 0 $3,070,651 27.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 2 8.7% 0 0 $698,236 6.2%
VARIOUS 1 4.3% 1 1 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 3 13.0% 1 1 $698,236 6.2%
Totals 23 100.0% 2 3 $11,266,750 100.0%
Export Table
California, Gas Transmission, 1999-2008
California 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 8.7% 0 0 $3,408,583 30.2%
Sub Total 2 8.7% 0 0 $3,408,583 30.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 6 26.0% 1 2 $1,858,693 16.5%
VARIOUS 5 21.7% 0 0 $848,703 7.5%
Sub Total 11 47.8% 1 2 $2,707,397 24.0%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 1 4.3% 0 0 $127,701 1.1%
Sub Total 1 4.3% 0 0 $127,701 1.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
FILLET WELD 1 4.3% 0 0 $350,349 3.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 2 8.7% 0 0 $903,830 8.0%
Sub Total 3 13.0% 0 0 $1,254,179 11.1%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 1 4.3% 0 0 $381,589 3.3%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 2 8.7% 0 0 $2,689,062 23.8%
Sub Total 3 13.0% 0 0 $3,070,651 27.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 2 8.7% 0 0 $698,236 6.2%
VARIOUS 1 4.3% 1 1 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 3 13.0% 1 1 $698,236 6.2%
Totals 23 100.0% 2 3 $11,266,750 100.0%
Export Table
California, Gas Transmission Onshore, 1999-2008

No Data Available

California Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 1 50.0% 0 0 $143,940 99.7%
Sub Total 1 50.0% 0 0 $143,940 99.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT 1 50.0% 0 1 $371 0.2%
Sub Total 1 50.0% 0 1 $371 0.2%
Totals 2 100.0% 0 1 $144,311 100.0%
Export Table
California, Gas Gathering, 1999-2008
California Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, INTERNAL 1 1.5% 0 1 $454,416 3.3%
Sub Total 1 1.5% 0 1 $454,416 3.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 1 1.5% 0 1 $1,040 0.0%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 8 12.1% 0 0 $1,351,474 9.8%
VARIOUS 16 24.2% 2 3 $4,343,987 31.6%
Sub Total 25 37.8% 2 4 $5,696,503 41.4%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 2 3.0% 0 2 $2,000 0.0%
VARIOUS 2 3.0% 0 1 $200,484 1.4%
Sub Total 4 6.0% 0 3 $202,484 1.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 2 3.0% 0 0 $898,323 6.5%
JOINT 1 1.5% 0 0 $114,418 0.8%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 1.5% 0 0 $224,350 1.6%
Sub Total 4 6.0% 0 0 $1,237,092 9.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 1 1.5% 0 0 $224,350 1.6%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 1 1.5% 0 0 $130,660 0.9%
TEMPERATURE 1 1.5% 0 0 $112,112 0.8%
VARIOUS 3 4.5% 0 0 $492,210 3.5%
Sub Total 6 9.0% 0 0 $959,333 6.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 10 15.1% 0 2 $1,709,128 12.4%
Sub Total 10 15.1% 0 2 $1,709,128 12.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 8 12.1% 0 3 $795,721 5.7%
UNKNOWN 2 3.0% 1 4 $61,462 0.4%
VARIOUS 6 9.0% 0 2 $2,616,524 19.0%
Sub Total 16 24.2% 1 9 $3,473,707 25.3%
Totals 66 100.0% 3 19 $13,732,666 100.0%
Export Table
California, 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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