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: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	33	11.3%	0	5	$53,513,361	21.9%
INTERNAL CORROSION	23	7.9%	12	2	$3,637,138	1.4%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	2	0.6%	0	0	$963,108	0.3%
Sub Total	58	20.0%	12	7	$58,113,607	23.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	2.0%	0	0	$1,182,672	0.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	74	25.5%	7	24	$20,519,519	8.4%
Sub Total	80	27.5%	7	24	$21,702,191	8.8%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	15	5.1%	0	8	$2,759,226	1.1%
Sub Total	15	5.1%	0	8	$2,759,226	1.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	9	3.1%	0	0	$74,427,344	30.4%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	7	2.4%	0	0	$5,329,456	2.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	5	1.7%	0	0	$230,831	0.0%
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	8	2.7%	0	6	$2,031,070	0.8%
Sub Total	29	10.0%	0	6	$82,018,703	33.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	6	2.0%	0	2	$1,754,026	0.7%
TEMPERATURE	4	1.3%	0	0	$1,996,197	0.8%
Sub Total	10	3.4%	0	2	$3,750,224	1.5%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FISHING OR MARITIME ACTIVITY	1	0.3%	0	0	$21,256,917	8.7%
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	4	1.3%	1	1	$1,396,118	0.5%
Sub Total	5	1.7%	1	1	$22,653,035	9.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	88	30.3%	15	30	$52,539,782	21.5%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	5	1.7%	3	3	$653,722	0.2%
Sub Total	93	32.0%	18	33	$53,193,504	21.7%
Totals	290	100.0%	38	81	$244,190,494	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	19	14.0%	0	0	$48,794,261	25.1%
INTERNAL CORROSION	11	8.1%	0	0	$487,379	0.2%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.7%	0	0	$18,123	0.0%
Sub Total	31	22.9%	0	0	$49,299,763	25.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	4.4%	0	0	$1,182,672	0.6%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	27	20.0%	1	3	$9,337,396	4.8%
Sub Total	33	24.4%	1	3	$10,520,068	5.4%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	9	6.6%	0	0	$2,549,517	1.3%
Sub Total	9	6.6%	0	0	$2,549,517	1.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	9	6.6%	0	0	$74,427,344	38.3%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	7	5.1%	0	0	$5,329,456	2.7%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	5	3.7%	0	0	$230,831	0.1%
Sub Total	21	15.5%	0	0	$79,987,632	41.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FISHING OR MARITIME ACTIVITY	1	0.7%	0	0	$21,256,917	10.9%
Sub Total	1	0.7%	0	0	$21,256,917	10.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	40	29.6%	0	1	$30,649,148	15.7%
Sub Total	40	29.6%	0	1	$30,649,148	15.7%
Totals	135	100.0%	1	4	$194,263,049	100.0%

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National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	18	13.3%	0	0	$48,561,251	25.0%
INTERNAL CORROSION	10	7.4%	0	0	$357,929	0.1%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.7%	0	0	$18,123	0.0%
Sub Total	29	21.4%	0	0	$48,937,303	25.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	4.4%	0	0	$1,182,672	0.6%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	26	19.2%	1	3	$8,987,881	4.6%
Sub Total	32	23.7%	1	3	$10,170,553	5.2%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	9	6.6%	0	0	$2,549,517	1.3%
Sub Total	9	6.6%	0	0	$2,549,517	1.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED PIPE BODY OR SEAM	9	6.6%	0	0	$74,427,344	38.3%
UNSPECIFIED WELD	7	5.1%	0	0	$5,329,456	2.7%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	5	3.7%	0	0	$230,831	0.1%
Sub Total	21	15.5%	0	0	$79,987,632	41.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	37	27.4%	0	1	$28,577,948	14.7%
Sub Total	37	27.4%	0	1	$28,577,948	14.7%
Totals	128	94.8%	1	4	$170,222,957	87.6%

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National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	0.7%	0	0	$233,010	0.1%
INTERNAL CORROSION	1	0.7%	0	0	$129,450	0.0%
Sub Total	2	1.4%	0	0	$362,460	0.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	0.7%	0	0	$349,515	0.1%
Sub Total	1	0.7%	0	0	$349,515	0.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FISHING OR MARITIME ACTIVITY	1	0.7%	0	0	$21,256,917	10.9%
Sub Total	1	0.7%	0	0	$21,256,917	10.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	3	2.2%	0	0	$2,071,200	1.0%
Sub Total	3	2.2%	0	0	$2,071,200	1.0%
Totals	7	5.1%	0	0	$24,040,092	12.3%

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• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	11	20.3%	0	0	$4,414,892	21.2%
INTERNAL CORROSION	10	18.5%	12	0	$2,991,830	14.3%
Sub Total	21	38.8%	12	0	$7,406,722	35.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	11	20.3%	3	7	$2,880,223	13.8%
Sub Total	11	20.3%	3	7	$2,880,223	13.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	3	5.5%	0	0	$472,492	2.2%
Sub Total	3	5.5%	0	0	$472,492	2.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	1.8%	0	0	$269,256	1.3%
TEMPERATURE	2	3.7%	0	0	$507,522	2.4%
Sub Total	3	5.5%	0	0	$776,778	3.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	16	29.6%	0	9	$9,256,284	44.5%
Sub Total	16	29.6%	0	9	$9,256,284	44.5%
Totals	54	100.0%	15	16	$20,792,502	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	10	18.5%	0	0	$4,260,846	20.4%
INTERNAL CORROSION	3	5.5%	12	0	$1,782,909	8.5%
Sub Total	13	24.0%	12	0	$6,043,756	29.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	10	18.5%	3	7	$2,103,523	10.1%
Sub Total	10	18.5%	3	7	$2,103,523	10.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	3	5.5%	0	0	$472,492	2.2%
Sub Total	3	5.5%	0	0	$472,492	2.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	1.8%	0	0	$269,256	1.3%
TEMPERATURE	2	3.7%	0	0	$507,522	2.4%
Sub Total	3	5.5%	0	0	$776,778	3.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	16	29.6%	0	9	$9,256,284	44.5%
Sub Total	16	29.6%	0	9	$9,256,284	44.5%
Totals	45	83.3%	15	16	$18,652,836	89.7%

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National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	1.8%	0	0	$154,045	0.7%
INTERNAL CORROSION	7	12.9%	0	0	$1,208,920	5.8%
Sub Total	8	14.8%	0	0	$1,362,966	6.5%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.8%	0	0	$776,700	3.7%
Sub Total	1	1.8%	0	0	$776,700	3.7%
Totals	9	16.6%	0	0	$2,139,666	10.2%

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National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	2	66.6%	0	2	$157,929	14.3%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	33.3%	0	0	$944,985	85.6%
Sub Total	3	100.0%	0	2	$1,102,914	100.0%
Totals	3	100.0%	0	2	$1,102,914	100.0%

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National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 2000

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	3	3.0%	0	5	$304,207	1.0%
Sub Total	3	3.0%	0	5	$304,207	1.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	36	36.7%	3	14	$8,301,899	29.6%
Sub Total	36	36.7%	3	14	$8,301,899	29.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	6	6.1%	0	8	$209,709	0.7%
Sub Total	6	6.1%	0	8	$209,709	0.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	5	5.1%	0	6	$1,558,578	5.5%
Sub Total	5	5.1%	0	6	$1,558,578	5.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	5	5.1%	0	2	$1,484,770	5.3%
TEMPERATURE	2	2.0%	0	0	$1,488,675	5.3%
Sub Total	7	7.1%	0	2	$2,973,445	10.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	4	4.0%	1	1	$1,396,118	4.9%
Sub Total	4	4.0%	1	1	$1,396,118	4.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	32	32.6%	15	20	$12,634,348	45.0%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	5	5.1%	3	3	$653,722	2.3%
Sub Total	37	37.7%	18	23	$13,288,070	47.4%
Totals	98	100.0%	22	59	$28,032,028	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.