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Significant Pipeline Incidents By Cause

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 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)
National All Pipeline Systems: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 50 21.4% 0 4 $13,874,476 19.6%
Sub Total 50 21.4% 0 4 $13,874,476 19.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 80 34.3% 3 21 $30,498,452 43.2%
Sub Total 80 34.3% 3 21 $30,498,452 43.2%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 12 5.1% 0 4 $731,603 1.0%
Sub Total 12 5.1% 0 4 $731,603 1.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 18 7.7% 0 2 $3,073,051 4.3%
Sub Total 18 7.7% 0 2 $3,073,051 4.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 14 6.0% 0 12 $5,967,683 8.4%
Sub Total 14 6.0% 0 12 $5,967,683 8.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 59 25.3% 4 18 $16,431,527 23.2%
Sub Total 59 25.3% 4 18 $16,431,527 23.2%
Totals 233 100.0% 7 61 $70,576,795 100.0%
Export Table
National, All Pipeline Systems, 2001
National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 33 30.5% 0 0 $7,254,205 24.8%
Sub Total 33 30.5% 0 0 $7,254,205 24.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 21 19.4% 0 2 $7,558,645 25.8%
Sub Total 21 19.4% 0 2 $7,558,645 25.8%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 9 8.3% 0 0 $716,292 2.4%
Sub Total 9 8.3% 0 0 $716,292 2.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 6 5.5% 0 0 $1,029,480 3.5%
Sub Total 6 5.5% 0 0 $1,029,480 3.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 3 2.7% 0 0 $149,780 0.5%
Sub Total 3 2.7% 0 0 $149,780 0.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 36 33.3% 0 8 $12,495,557 42.7%
Sub Total 36 33.3% 0 8 $12,495,557 42.7%
Totals 108 100.0% 0 10 $29,203,960 100.0%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid, 2001
National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 30 27.7% 0 0 $5,901,004 20.2%
Sub Total 30 27.7% 0 0 $5,901,004 20.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 21 19.4% 0 2 $7,558,645 25.8%
Sub Total 21 19.4% 0 2 $7,558,645 25.8%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 9 8.3% 0 0 $716,292 2.4%
Sub Total 9 8.3% 0 0 $716,292 2.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 6 5.5% 0 0 $1,029,480 3.5%
Sub Total 6 5.5% 0 0 $1,029,480 3.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 3 2.7% 0 0 $149,780 0.5%
Sub Total 3 2.7% 0 0 $149,780 0.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 35 32.4% 0 8 $12,257,527 41.9%
Sub Total 35 32.4% 0 8 $12,257,527 41.9%
Totals 104 96.3% 0 10 $27,612,729 94.5%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 2001
National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 3 2.7% 0 0 $1,353,201 4.6%
Sub Total 3 2.7% 0 0 $1,353,201 4.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 1 0.9% 0 0 $238,030 0.8%
Sub Total 1 0.9% 0 0 $238,030 0.8%
Totals 4 3.7% 0 0 $1,591,231 5.4%
Export Table
National, Hazardous Liquid Offshore, 2001
National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 10 20.0% 0 0 $3,835,319 25.2%
Sub Total 10 20.0% 0 0 $3,835,319 25.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 15 30.0% 0 0 $6,381,872 42.0%
Sub Total 15 30.0% 0 0 $6,381,872 42.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 8 16.0% 0 0 $1,709,929 11.2%
Sub Total 8 16.0% 0 0 $1,709,929 11.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 3 6.0% 0 0 $1,305,804 8.5%
Sub Total 3 6.0% 0 0 $1,305,804 8.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 14 28.0% 2 5 $1,960,320 12.9%
Sub Total 14 28.0% 2 5 $1,960,320 12.9%
Totals 50 100.0% 2 5 $15,193,246 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission, 2001
National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 8 16.0% 0 0 $3,495,709 23.0%
Sub Total 8 16.0% 0 0 $3,495,709 23.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 14 28.0% 0 0 $5,632,077 37.0%
Sub Total 14 28.0% 0 0 $5,632,077 37.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 8 16.0% 0 0 $1,709,929 11.2%
Sub Total 8 16.0% 0 0 $1,709,929 11.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 4.0% 0 0 $978,513 6.4%
Sub Total 2 4.0% 0 0 $978,513 6.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 13 26.0% 2 5 $1,662,783 10.9%
Sub Total 13 26.0% 2 5 $1,662,783 10.9%
Totals 45 90.0% 2 5 $13,479,013 88.7%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission Onshore, 2001
National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 2 4.0% 0 0 $339,609 2.2%
Sub Total 2 4.0% 0 0 $339,609 2.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 2.0% 0 0 $749,794 4.9%
Sub Total 1 2.0% 0 0 $749,794 4.9%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 1 2.0% 0 0 $327,291 2.1%
Sub Total 1 2.0% 0 0 $327,291 2.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 1 2.0% 0 0 $297,537 1.9%
Sub Total 1 2.0% 0 0 $297,537 1.9%
Totals 5 10.0% 0 0 $1,714,233 11.2%
Export Table
National, Gas Transmission Offshore, 2001
National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 3 50.0% 0 0 $2,380,300 20.4%
Sub Total 3 50.0% 0 0 $2,380,300 20.4%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 2 33.3% 0 0 $9,141,069 78.5%
Sub Total 2 33.3% 0 0 $9,141,069 78.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 1 16.6% 0 0 $115,844 1.0%
Sub Total 1 16.6% 0 0 $115,844 1.0%
Totals 6 100.0% 0 0 $11,637,215 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Gathering, 2001
National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 2001
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS 4 5.8% 0 4 $404,651 2.7%
Sub Total 4 5.8% 0 4 $404,651 2.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS 42 60.8% 3 19 $7,416,864 51.0%
Sub Total 42 60.8% 3 19 $7,416,864 51.0%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS 3 4.3% 0 4 $15,311 0.1%
Sub Total 3 4.3% 0 4 $15,311 0.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS 3 4.3% 0 2 $217,797 1.5%
Sub Total 3 4.3% 0 2 $217,797 1.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS 8 11.5% 0 12 $4,512,098 31.0%
Sub Total 8 11.5% 0 12 $4,512,098 31.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS 9 13.0% 2 5 $1,975,649 13.5%
Sub Total 9 13.0% 2 5 $1,975,649 13.5%
Totals 69 100.0% 5 46 $14,542,372 100.0%
Export Table
National, Gas Distribution, 2001

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.
  6. Does not include 1,851 injuries that required medical treatment reported for the October, 1994 accidents that were caused by severe flooding near Houston, Texas.

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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