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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.

• All Pipeline Systems
• Hazardous Liquid
• Gas Transmission
• Gas Gathering
• Gas Distribution

National All Pipeline Systems: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number (B)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	31	12.0%	0	0	$17,258,265	14.5%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	21	8.1%	0	0	$6,084,677	5.1%
VARIOUS	5	1.9%	2	9	$502,870	0.4%
Sub Total	57	22.0%	2	9	$23,845,813	20.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	2.7%	0	0	$2,083,213	1.7%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	24	9.3%	1	1	$4,601,380	3.8%
VARIOUS	24	9.3%	2	8	$10,719,431	9.0%
Sub Total	55	21.3%	3	9	$17,404,026	14.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	9	3.4%	1	0	$3,342,097	2.8%
VARIOUS	6	2.3%	0	9	$315,756	0.2%
Sub Total	15	5.8%	1	9	$3,657,853	3.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	3	1.1%	0	0	$3,806,035	3.2%
BUTT WELD	2	0.7%	0	0	$390,788	0.3%
COMPONENT	4	1.5%	0	0	$1,032,929	0.8%
FILLET WELD	5	1.9%	0	0	$1,566,944	1.3%
JOINT	7	2.7%	0	0	$1,448,940	1.2%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	9	3.4%	0	2	$281,605	0.2%
PIPE SEAM WELD	10	3.8%	0	0	$14,865,891	12.5%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	11	4.2%	0	0	$1,352,240	1.1%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	6	2.3%	0	1	$564,274	0.4%
VARIOUS	5	1.9%	0	3	$2,441,919	2.0%
Sub Total	62	24.0%	0	6	$27,751,570	23.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	3	1.1%	0	0	$4,794,173	4.0%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	3	1.1%	0	0	$7,598,083	6.4%
HIGH WINDS	1	0.3%	0	0	$1,754,200	1.4%
LIGHTNING	3	1.1%	0	0	$108,933	0.0%
TEMPERATURE	1	0.3%	0	0	$4,350	0.0%
VARIOUS	10	3.8%	0	0	$8,002,663	6.7%
Sub Total	21	8.1%	0	0	$22,262,404	18.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	6	2.3%	0	1	$15,351,506	12.9%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.3%	0	0	$298,214	0.2%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	0.3%	0	0	$289,536	0.2%
VANDALISM	2	0.7%	0	0	$165,359	0.1%
Sub Total	10	3.8%	0	1	$16,104,617	13.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	15	5.8%	0	0	$2,544,752	2.1%
UNKNOWN	2	0.7%	0	0	$361,993	0.3%
VARIOUS	21	8.1%	6	15	$4,748,738	4.0%
Sub Total	38	14.7%	6	15	$7,655,484	6.4%
Totals	258	100.0%	12	49	$118,681,769	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	25	18.8%	0	0	$11,461,208	21.0%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	8	6.0%	0	0	$1,058,071	1.9%
VARIOUS	3	2.2%	0	0	$432,702	0.7%
Sub Total	36	27.0%	0	0	$12,951,982	23.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	5.2%	0	0	$2,083,213	3.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	17	12.7%	0	0	$3,331,359	6.1%
Sub Total	24	18.0%	0	0	$5,414,573	9.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	8	6.0%	1	0	$1,002,104	1.8%
Sub Total	8	6.0%	1	0	$1,002,104	1.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BUTT WELD	1	0.7%	0	0	$88,879	0.1%
COMPONENT	2	1.5%	0	0	$263,130	0.4%
FILLET WELD	3	2.2%	0	0	$881,648	1.6%
JOINT	4	3.0%	0	0	$694,076	1.2%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	8	6.0%	0	0	$281,441	0.5%
PIPE SEAM WELD	6	4.5%	0	0	$14,027,464	25.7%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	11	8.2%	0	0	$1,352,240	2.4%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	5	3.7%	0	0	$512,811	0.9%
VARIOUS	2	1.5%	0	0	$11,767	0.0%
Sub Total	42	31.5%	0	0	$18,113,459	33.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	0.7%	0	0	$249,154	0.4%
LIGHTNING	3	2.2%	0	0	$108,933	0.2%
TEMPERATURE	1	0.7%	0	0	$4,350	0.0%
Sub Total	5	3.7%	0	0	$362,438	0.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	3	2.2%	0	0	$14,482,419	26.5%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.7%	0	0	$298,214	0.5%
VANDALISM	1	0.7%	0	0	$7,997	0.0%
Sub Total	5	3.7%	0	0	$14,788,632	27.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	12	9.0%	0	0	$1,905,663	3.4%
VARIOUS	1	0.7%	0	0	$7,718	0.0%
Sub Total	13	9.7%	0	0	$1,913,381	3.5%
Totals	133	100.0%	1	0	$54,546,572	100.0%

Export Table

National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	23	17.2%	0	0	$10,408,687	19.0%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	8	6.0%	0	0	$1,058,071	1.9%
VARIOUS	2	1.5%	0	0	$339,145	0.6%
Sub Total	33	24.8%	0	0	$11,805,905	21.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	5.2%	0	0	$2,083,213	3.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	17	12.7%	0	0	$3,331,359	6.1%
Sub Total	24	18.0%	0	0	$5,414,573	9.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	8	6.0%	1	0	$1,002,104	1.8%
Sub Total	8	6.0%	1	0	$1,002,104	1.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BUTT WELD	1	0.7%	0	0	$88,879	0.1%
COMPONENT	2	1.5%	0	0	$263,130	0.4%
FILLET WELD	3	2.2%	0	0	$881,648	1.6%
JOINT	4	3.0%	0	0	$694,076	1.2%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	8	6.0%	0	0	$281,441	0.5%
PIPE SEAM WELD	6	4.5%	0	0	$14,027,464	25.7%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	11	8.2%	0	0	$1,352,240	2.4%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	5	3.7%	0	0	$512,811	0.9%
VARIOUS	2	1.5%	0	0	$11,767	0.0%
Sub Total	42	31.5%	0	0	$18,113,459	33.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	0.7%	0	0	$249,154	0.4%
LIGHTNING	3	2.2%	0	0	$108,933	0.2%
TEMPERATURE	1	0.7%	0	0	$4,350	0.0%
Sub Total	5	3.7%	0	0	$362,438	0.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	2	1.5%	0	0	$13,429,899	24.6%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.7%	0	0	$298,214	0.5%
VANDALISM	1	0.7%	0	0	$7,997	0.0%
Sub Total	4	3.0%	0	0	$13,736,111	25.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	12	9.0%	0	0	$1,905,663	3.4%
VARIOUS	1	0.7%	0	0	$7,718	0.0%
Sub Total	13	9.7%	0	0	$1,913,381	3.5%
Totals	129	96.9%	1	0	$52,347,974	95.9%

Export Table

National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	2	1.5%	0	0	$1,052,520	1.9%
VARIOUS	1	0.7%	0	0	$93,557	0.1%
Sub Total	3	2.2%	0	0	$1,146,077	2.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	1	0.7%	0	0	$1,052,520	1.9%
Sub Total	1	0.7%	0	0	$1,052,520	1.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	1	0.7%	0	0	$99,533	0.1%
Sub Total	1	0.7%	0	0	$99,533	0.1%
Totals	5	3.7%	0	0	$2,298,131	4.2%

Export Table

• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	6	10.7%	0	0	$5,797,057	15.9%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	11	19.6%	0	0	$4,020,495	11.0%
Sub Total	17	30.3%	0	0	$9,817,552	26.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	12.5%	1	1	$1,270,021	3.4%
Sub Total	7	12.5%	1	1	$1,270,021	3.4%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	1	1.7%	0	0	$2,339,992	6.4%
Sub Total	1	1.7%	0	0	$2,339,992	6.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	3	5.3%	0	0	$3,806,035	10.4%
BUTT WELD	1	1.7%	0	0	$301,908	0.8%
COMPONENT	2	3.5%	0	0	$769,799	2.1%
FILLET WELD	2	3.5%	0	0	$685,296	1.8%
JOINT	3	5.3%	0	0	$754,863	2.0%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	1	1.7%	0	2	$163	0.0%
PIPE SEAM WELD	4	7.1%	0	0	$838,427	2.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	1	1.7%	0	1	$51,463	0.1%
Sub Total	17	30.3%	0	3	$7,207,958	19.7%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	3.5%	0	0	$4,545,018	12.4%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	3.5%	0	0	$7,247,243	19.8%
HIGH WINDS	1	1.7%	0	0	$1,754,200	4.8%
Sub Total	5	8.9%	0	0	$13,546,461	37.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	2	3.5%	0	0	$818,122	2.2%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	1.7%	0	0	$289,536	0.7%
VANDALISM	1	1.7%	0	0	$157,361	0.4%
Sub Total	4	7.1%	0	0	$1,265,020	3.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	3	5.3%	0	0	$639,089	1.7%
UNKNOWN	2	3.5%	0	0	$361,993	0.9%
Sub Total	5	8.9%	0	0	$1,001,082	2.7%
Totals	56	100.0%	1	4	$36,448,090	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	6	10.7%	0	0	$5,797,057	15.9%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	3	5.3%	0	0	$762,489	2.0%
Sub Total	9	16.0%	0	0	$6,559,546	18.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	12.5%	1	1	$1,270,021	3.4%
Sub Total	7	12.5%	1	1	$1,270,021	3.4%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	1	1.7%	0	0	$2,339,992	6.4%
Sub Total	1	1.7%	0	0	$2,339,992	6.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	3	5.3%	0	0	$3,806,035	10.4%
BUTT WELD	1	1.7%	0	0	$301,908	0.8%
COMPONENT	1	1.7%	0	0	$183,951	0.5%
FILLET WELD	2	3.5%	0	0	$685,296	1.8%
JOINT	2	3.5%	0	0	$638,470	1.7%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	1	1.7%	0	2	$163	0.0%
PIPE SEAM WELD	4	7.1%	0	0	$838,427	2.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	1	1.7%	0	1	$51,463	0.1%
Sub Total	15	26.7%	0	3	$6,505,717	17.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	3.5%	0	0	$4,545,018	12.4%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	1.7%	0	0	$256,877	0.7%
Sub Total	3	5.3%	0	0	$4,801,895	13.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	1.7%	0	0	$289,536	0.7%
VANDALISM	1	1.7%	0	0	$157,361	0.4%
Sub Total	2	3.5%	0	0	$446,898	1.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	2	3.5%	0	0	$388,045	1.0%
UNKNOWN	1	1.7%	0	0	$160,343	0.4%
Sub Total	3	5.3%	0	0	$548,389	1.5%
Totals	40	71.4%	1	4	$22,472,462	61.6%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, INTERNAL	8	14.2%	0	0	$3,258,005	8.9%
Sub Total	8	14.2%	0	0	$3,258,005	8.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT	1	1.7%	0	0	$585,847	1.6%
JOINT	1	1.7%	0	0	$116,392	0.3%
Sub Total	2	3.5%	0	0	$702,240	1.9%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	1.7%	0	0	$6,990,365	19.1%
HIGH WINDS	1	1.7%	0	0	$1,754,200	4.8%
Sub Total	2	3.5%	0	0	$8,744,566	23.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	2	3.5%	0	0	$818,122	2.2%
Sub Total	2	3.5%	0	0	$818,122	2.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	1	1.7%	0	0	$251,044	0.6%
UNKNOWN	1	1.7%	0	0	$201,649	0.5%
Sub Total	2	3.5%	0	0	$452,693	1.2%
Totals	16	28.5%	0	0	$13,975,628	38.3%

Export Table

National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, INTERNAL	2	50.0%	0	0	$1,006,109	71.4%
Sub Total	2	50.0%	0	0	$1,006,109	71.4%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	25.0%	0	0	$350,840	24.9%
Sub Total	1	25.0%	0	0	$350,840	24.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	1	25.0%	0	1	$50,964	3.6%
Sub Total	1	25.0%	0	1	$50,964	3.6%
Totals	4	100.0%	0	1	$1,407,914	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 2002

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number (B)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
VARIOUS	2	3.0%	2	9	$70,168	0.2%
Sub Total	2	3.0%	2	9	$70,168	0.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
VARIOUS	24	36.9%	2	8	$10,719,431	40.7%
Sub Total	24	36.9%	2	8	$10,719,431	40.7%
INCORRECT OPERATION
VARIOUS	6	9.2%	0	9	$315,756	1.2%
Sub Total	6	9.2%	0	9	$315,756	1.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
VARIOUS	3	4.6%	0	3	$2,430,152	9.2%
Sub Total	3	4.6%	0	3	$2,430,152	9.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
VARIOUS	10	15.3%	0	0	$8,002,663	30.4%
Sub Total	10	15.3%	0	0	$8,002,663	30.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
VARIOUS	20	30.7%	6	15	$4,741,019	18.0%
Sub Total	20	30.7%	6	15	$4,741,019	18.0%
Totals	65	100.0%	10	44	$26,279,191	100.0%

Export Table

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.