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State-specific information:

Significant Pipeline Incidents By Cause

This report is a sub-report of the New Mexico 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)
New Mexico 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 6 9.2% 0 0 $773,195 9.0%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 4 6.1% 0 0 $487,054 5.7%
VARIOUS 2 3.0% 12 2 $1,430,151 16.8%
Sub Total 12 18.4% 12 2 $2,690,401 31.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 2 3.0% 0 0 $11,644 0.1%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 8 12.3% 0 1 $1,096,484 12.8%
VARIOUS 10 15.3% 1 3 $1,388,764 16.3%
Sub Total 20 30.7% 1 4 $2,496,893 29.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 2 3.0% 0 1 $63,494 0.7%
VARIOUS 2 3.0% 0 2 $7,455 0.0%
Sub Total 4 6.1% 0 3 $70,950 0.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 1.5% 0 0 $10,386 0.1%
BUTT WELD 2 3.0% 0 0 $286,747 3.3%
JOINT 1 1.5% 0 0 $180,411 2.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 2 3.0% 0 0 $208,303 2.4%
PIPE SEAM WELD 2 3.0% 0 0 $397,740 4.6%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 2 3.0% 0 0 $4,480 0.0%
VARIOUS 3 4.6% 0 0 $416,023 4.8%
Sub Total 13 20.0% 0 0 $1,504,093 17.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 1.5% 0 0 $143,835 1.6%
Sub Total 1 1.5% 0 0 $143,835 1.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 5 7.6% 1 3 $534,355 6.2%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 1.5% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 6 9.2% 1 4 $534,355 6.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 1.5% 0 2 $107,897 1.2%
UNKNOWN 3 4.6% 1 0 $376,604 4.4%
VARIOUS 5 7.6% 0 0 $588,659 6.9%
Sub Total 9 13.8% 1 2 $1,073,161 12.6%
Totals 65 100.0% 15 15 $8,513,691 100.0%
Export Table
New Mexico, All Pipeline Systems, 1999-2008
New Mexico 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 5 13.8% 0 0 $658,442 18.2%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 4 11.1% 0 0 $487,054 13.4%
Sub Total 9 25.0% 0 0 $1,145,497 31.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 2 5.5% 0 0 $11,644 0.3%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 5 13.8% 0 0 $563,346 15.5%
VARIOUS 2 5.5% 0 0 $388,590 10.7%
Sub Total 9 25.0% 0 0 $963,581 26.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 1 2.7% 0 0 $40,779 1.1%
VARIOUS 1 2.7% 0 0 $7,455 0.2%
Sub Total 2 5.5% 0 0 $48,234 1.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 2.7% 0 0 $10,386 0.2%
BUTT WELD 1 2.7% 0 0 $88,879 2.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 2 5.5% 0 0 $208,303 5.7%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 2.7% 0 0 $208,646 5.7%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 2 5.5% 0 0 $4,480 0.1%
VARIOUS 2 5.5% 0 0 $198,816 5.4%
Sub Total 9 25.0% 0 0 $719,512 19.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
UNKNOWN 2 5.5% 0 0 $153,299 4.2%
VARIOUS 5 13.8% 0 0 $588,659 16.2%
Sub Total 7 19.4% 0 0 $741,958 20.5%
Totals 36 100.0% 0 0 $3,618,784 100.0%
Export Table
New Mexico, Hazardous Liquid, 1999-2008
New Mexico 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 5 13.8% 0 0 $658,442 18.2%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 4 11.1% 0 0 $487,054 13.4%
Sub Total 9 25.0% 0 0 $1,145,497 31.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 2 5.5% 0 0 $11,644 0.3%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 5 13.8% 0 0 $563,346 15.5%
VARIOUS 2 5.5% 0 0 $388,590 10.7%
Sub Total 9 25.0% 0 0 $963,581 26.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 1 2.7% 0 0 $40,779 1.1%
VARIOUS 1 2.7% 0 0 $7,455 0.2%
Sub Total 2 5.5% 0 0 $48,234 1.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 2.7% 0 0 $10,386 0.2%
BUTT WELD 1 2.7% 0 0 $88,879 2.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 2 5.5% 0 0 $208,303 5.7%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 2.7% 0 0 $208,646 5.7%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 2 5.5% 0 0 $4,480 0.1%
VARIOUS 2 5.5% 0 0 $198,816 5.4%
Sub Total 9 25.0% 0 0 $719,512 19.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
UNKNOWN 2 5.5% 0 0 $153,299 4.2%
VARIOUS 5 13.8% 0 0 $588,659 16.2%
Sub Total 7 19.4% 0 0 $741,958 20.5%
Totals 36 100.0% 0 0 $3,618,784 100.0%
Export Table
New Mexico, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 1999-2008

No Data Available

New Mexico 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 1 14.2% 0 0 $114,752 5.4%
VARIOUS 1 14.2% 12 0 $1,215,924 58.1%
Sub Total 2 28.5% 12 0 $1,330,677 63.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 1 14.2% 0 0 $156,196 7.4%
Sub Total 1 14.2% 0 0 $156,196 7.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BUTT WELD 1 14.2% 0 0 $197,868 9.4%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 14.2% 0 0 $189,094 9.0%
VARIOUS 1 14.2% 0 0 $217,207 10.3%
Sub Total 3 42.8% 0 0 $604,170 28.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 14.2% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 1 14.2% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Totals 7 100.0% 12 1 $2,091,044 100.0%
Export Table
New Mexico, Gas Transmission, 1999-2008
New Mexico 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 1 14.2% 0 0 $114,752 5.4%
VARIOUS 1 14.2% 12 0 $1,215,924 58.1%
Sub Total 2 28.5% 12 0 $1,330,677 63.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 1 14.2% 0 0 $156,196 7.4%
Sub Total 1 14.2% 0 0 $156,196 7.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BUTT WELD 1 14.2% 0 0 $197,868 9.4%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 14.2% 0 0 $189,094 9.0%
VARIOUS 1 14.2% 0 0 $217,207 10.3%
Sub Total 3 42.8% 0 0 $604,170 28.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 1 14.2% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 1 14.2% 0 1 $0 0.0%
Totals 7 100.0% 12 1 $2,091,044 100.0%
Export Table
New Mexico, Gas Transmission Onshore, 1999-2008

No Data Available

New Mexico Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 1 100.0% 0 1 $22,715 100.0%
Sub Total 1100.0% 0 1 $22,715100.0%
Totals 1 100.0% 0 1 $22,715 100.0%
Export Table
New Mexico, Gas Gathering, 1999-2008
New Mexico Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 1999-2008
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 1 4.7% 0 2 $214,227 7.7%
Sub Total 1 4.7% 0 2 $214,227 7.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 2 9.5% 0 1 $376,940 13.5%
VARIOUS 8 38.1% 1 3 $1,000,173 35.9%
Sub Total 10 47.6% 1 4 $1,377,114 49.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 1 4.7% 0 2 $0 0.0%
Sub Total 1 4.7% 0 2 $0 0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
JOINT 1 4.7% 0 0 $180,411 6.4%
Sub Total 1 4.7% 0 0 $180,411 6.4%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 4.7% 0 0 $143,835 5.1%
Sub Total 1 4.7% 0 0 $143,835 5.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 5 23.8% 1 3 $534,355 19.2%
Sub Total 5 23.8% 1 3 $534,355 19.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 4.7% 0 2 $107,897 3.8%
UNKNOWN 1 4.7% 1 0 $223,305 8.0%
Sub Total 2 9.5% 1 2 $331,202 11.9%
Totals 21 100.0% 3 13 $2,781,146 100.0%
Export Table
New Mexico, 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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