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: 2003

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	21	7.0%	0	0	$13,191,528	8.2%
INTERNAL CORROSION	24	8.0%	0	0	$19,876,219	12.4%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.3%	0	0	$74	0.0%
Sub Total	46	15.4%	0	0	$33,067,822	20.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	8	2.6%	0	2	$442,649	0.2%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	74	24.8%	5	35	$22,739,528	14.2%
Sub Total	82	27.5%	5	37	$23,182,177	14.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	17	5.7%	0	9	$878,387	0.5%
Sub Total	17	5.7%	0	9	$878,387	0.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	3	1.0%	0	0	$16,560,618	10.3%
BODY OF PIPE	6	2.0%	0	0	$6,471,240	4.0%
PIPE SEAM	8	2.6%	0	0	$5,233,961	3.2%
BUTT WELD	9	3.0%	0	0	$22,636,262	14.1%
FILLET WELD	2	0.6%	0	0	$1,104,854	0.6%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	18	6.0%	0	0	$8,011,444	5.0%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	5	1.6%	0	0	$549,825	0.3%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	6	2.0%	0	1	$4,469,538	2.8%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	8	2.6%	0	1	$387,389	0.2%
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	1	0.3%	0	0	$110,066	0.0%
Sub Total	66	22.1%	0	2	$65,535,201	41.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	8	2.6%	0	2	$1,966,255	1.2%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	0.3%	0	0	$55,033	0.0%
LIGHTNING	3	1.0%	0	0	$1,770,576	1.1%
TEMPERATURE	4	1.3%	0	0	$1,827,097	1.1%
Sub Total	16	5.3%	0	2	$5,618,962	3.5%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	2	0.6%	0	0	$5,129,005	3.2%
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	8	2.6%	0	3	$2,580,684	1.6%
PREVIOUS MECHANICAL DAMAGE	2	0.6%	0	0	$979,588	0.6%
INTENTIONAL DAMAGE	1	0.3%	0	0	$28,694	0.0%
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	14	4.7%	0	6	$4,586,088	2.8%
Sub Total	27	9.0%	0	9	$13,304,062	8.3%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	39	13.0%	7	12	$13,109,007	8.2%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	5	1.6%	0	0	$4,989,395	3.1%
Sub Total	44	14.7%	7	12	$18,098,402	11.3%
Totals	298	100.0%	12	71	$159,685,016	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 2003

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	16	13.0%	0	0	$3,853,496	4.9%
INTERNAL CORROSION	12	9.7%	0	0	$2,225,151	2.8%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.8%	0	0	$74	0.0%
Sub Total	29	23.5%	0	0	$6,078,722	7.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	4	3.2%	0	0	$177,756	0.2%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	15	12.2%	0	0	$6,799,166	8.6%
Sub Total	19	15.4%	0	0	$6,976,923	8.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	8	6.5%	0	4	$318,472	0.4%
Sub Total	8	6.5%	0	4	$318,472	0.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	2	1.6%	0	0	$16,193,711	20.6%
BODY OF PIPE	3	2.4%	0	0	$2,235,863	2.8%
PIPE SEAM	3	2.4%	0	0	$3,854,621	4.9%
BUTT WELD	6	4.8%	0	0	$22,125,280	28.2%
FILLET WELD	1	0.8%	0	0	$156,538	0.2%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	16	13.0%	0	0	$7,385,662	9.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	4	3.2%	0	0	$413,250	0.5%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	2	1.6%	0	0	$32,958	0.0%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	7	5.6%	0	0	$387,389	0.4%
Sub Total	44	35.7%	0	0	$52,785,278	67.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	1.6%	0	0	$359,369	0.4%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	0.8%	0	0	$55,033	0.0%
LIGHTNING	2	1.6%	0	0	$1,380,285	1.7%
TEMPERATURE	2	1.6%	0	0	$971,027	1.2%
Sub Total	7	5.6%	0	0	$2,765,716	3.5%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.8%	0	0	$2,883,100	3.6%
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	1	0.8%	0	0	$686,653	0.8%
PREVIOUS MECHANICAL DAMAGE	2	1.6%	0	0	$979,588	1.2%
INTENTIONAL DAMAGE	1	0.8%	0	0	$28,694	0.0%
Sub Total	5	4.0%	0	0	$4,578,036	5.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	9	7.3%	0	1	$3,969,499	5.0%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	2	1.6%	0	0	$944,272	1.2%
Sub Total	11	8.9%	0	1	$4,913,771	6.2%
Totals	123	100.0%	0	5	$78,416,921	100.0%

Export Table

National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2003

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	16	13.0%	0	0	$3,853,496	4.9%
INTERNAL CORROSION	12	9.7%	0	0	$2,225,151	2.8%
UNSPECIFIED CORROSION	1	0.8%	0	0	$74	0.0%
Sub Total	29	23.5%	0	0	$6,078,722	7.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	4	3.2%	0	0	$177,756	0.2%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	15	12.2%	0	0	$6,799,166	8.6%
Sub Total	19	15.4%	0	0	$6,976,923	8.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	8	6.5%	0	4	$318,472	0.4%
Sub Total	8	6.5%	0	4	$318,472	0.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	2	1.6%	0	0	$16,193,711	20.6%
BODY OF PIPE	3	2.4%	0	0	$2,235,863	2.8%
PIPE SEAM	3	2.4%	0	0	$3,854,621	4.9%
BUTT WELD	6	4.8%	0	0	$22,125,280	28.2%
FILLET WELD	1	0.8%	0	0	$156,538	0.2%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	16	13.0%	0	0	$7,385,662	9.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	4	3.2%	0	0	$413,250	0.5%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	2	1.6%	0	0	$32,958	0.0%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	7	5.6%	0	0	$387,389	0.4%
Sub Total	44	35.7%	0	0	$52,785,278	67.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	1.6%	0	0	$359,369	0.4%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	0.8%	0	0	$55,033	0.0%
LIGHTNING	2	1.6%	0	0	$1,380,285	1.7%
TEMPERATURE	2	1.6%	0	0	$971,027	1.2%
Sub Total	7	5.6%	0	0	$2,765,716	3.5%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.8%	0	0	$2,883,100	3.6%
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	1	0.8%	0	0	$686,653	0.8%
PREVIOUS MECHANICAL DAMAGE	2	1.6%	0	0	$979,588	1.2%
INTENTIONAL DAMAGE	1	0.8%	0	0	$28,694	0.0%
Sub Total	5	4.0%	0	0	$4,578,036	5.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	9	7.3%	0	1	$3,969,499	5.0%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	2	1.6%	0	0	$944,272	1.2%
Sub Total	11	8.9%	0	1	$4,913,771	6.2%
Totals	123	100.0%	0	5	$78,416,921	100.0%

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No Data Available

• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 2003

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	5	7.1%	0	0	$9,338,032	16.9%
INTERNAL CORROSION	10	14.2%	0	0	$17,248,601	31.3%
Sub Total	15	21.4%	0	0	$26,586,634	48.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.4%	0	0	$142,597	0.2%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	10	14.2%	1	2	$4,215,690	7.6%
Sub Total	11	15.7%	1	2	$4,358,287	7.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	6	8.5%	0	2	$559,914	1.0%
Sub Total	6	8.5%	0	2	$559,914	1.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	1	1.4%	0	0	$366,906	0.6%
BODY OF PIPE	3	4.2%	0	0	$4,235,376	7.6%
PIPE SEAM	5	7.1%	0	0	$1,379,340	2.5%
BUTT WELD	3	4.2%	0	0	$510,981	0.9%
FILLET WELD	1	1.4%	0	0	$948,316	1.7%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	2	2.8%	0	0	$625,782	1.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	1	1.4%	0	0	$136,575	0.2%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	3	4.2%	0	1	$2,750,808	5.0%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	1	1.4%	0	1	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	20	28.5%	0	2	$10,954,086	19.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	1.4%	0	0	$616,290	1.1%
LIGHTNING	1	1.4%	0	0	$390,290	0.7%
Sub Total	2	2.8%	0	0	$1,006,581	1.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	1.4%	0	0	$2,245,905	4.0%
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	6	8.5%	0	2	$1,890,362	3.4%
Sub Total	7	10.0%	0	2	$4,136,267	7.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	6	8.5%	0	0	$3,423,794	6.2%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	3	4.2%	0	0	$4,045,123	7.3%
Sub Total	9	12.8%	0	0	$7,468,917	13.5%
Totals	70	100.0%	1	8	$55,070,689	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2003

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	5	7.1%	0	0	$9,338,032	16.9%
INTERNAL CORROSION	5	7.1%	0	0	$15,973,538	29.0%
Sub Total	10	14.2%	0	0	$25,311,570	45.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.4%	0	0	$142,597	0.2%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	9	12.8%	1	2	$2,818,073	5.1%
Sub Total	10	14.2%	1	2	$2,960,670	5.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	6	8.5%	0	2	$559,914	1.0%
Sub Total	6	8.5%	0	2	$559,914	1.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	1	1.4%	0	0	$366,906	0.6%
BODY OF PIPE	3	4.2%	0	0	$4,235,376	7.6%
PIPE SEAM	5	7.1%	0	0	$1,379,340	2.5%
BUTT WELD	3	4.2%	0	0	$510,981	0.9%
FILLET WELD	1	1.4%	0	0	$948,316	1.7%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	2	2.8%	0	0	$625,782	1.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	1	1.4%	0	0	$136,575	0.2%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	3	4.2%	0	1	$2,750,808	5.0%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	1	1.4%	0	1	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	20	28.5%	0	2	$10,954,086	19.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
LIGHTNING	1	1.4%	0	0	$390,290	0.7%
Sub Total	1	1.4%	0	0	$390,290	0.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	1.4%	0	0	$2,245,905	4.0%
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	5	7.1%	0	2	$1,436,905	2.6%
Sub Total	6	8.5%	0	2	$3,682,811	6.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	6	8.5%	0	0	$3,423,794	6.2%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	3	4.2%	0	0	$4,045,123	7.3%
Sub Total	9	12.8%	0	0	$7,468,917	13.5%
Totals	62	88.5%	1	8	$51,328,261	93.2%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2003

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	5	7.1%	0	0	$1,275,063	2.3%
Sub Total	5	7.1%	0	0	$1,275,063	2.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.4%	0	0	$1,397,617	2.5%
Sub Total	1	1.4%	0	0	$1,397,617	2.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	1.4%	0	0	$616,290	1.1%
Sub Total	1	1.4%	0	0	$616,290	1.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	1	1.4%	0	0	$453,456	0.8%
Sub Total	1	1.4%	0	0	$453,456	0.8%
Totals	8	11.4%	0	0	$3,742,427	6.8%

Export Table

National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 2003

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	2	66.6%	0	0	$402,465	19.2%
Sub Total	2	66.6%	0	0	$402,465	19.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	1	33.3%	0	0	$1,685,771	80.7%
Sub Total	1	33.3%	0	0	$1,685,771	80.7%
Totals	3	100.0%	0	0	$2,088,237	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 2003

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	2.9%	0	2	$122,295	0.5%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	49	48.0%	4	33	$11,724,671	48.6%
Sub Total	52	50.9%	4	35	$11,846,966	49.1%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	3	2.9%	0	3	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	3	2.9%	0	3	$0	0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
UNSPECIFIED MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE	1	0.9%	0	0	$110,066	0.4%
Sub Total	1	0.9%	0	0	$110,066	0.4%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	5	4.9%	0	2	$990,595	4.1%
TEMPERATURE	2	1.9%	0	0	$856,069	3.5%
Sub Total	7	6.8%	0	2	$1,846,665	7.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	1	0.9%	0	1	$3,668	0.0%
UNSPECIFIED OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE	14	13.7%	0	6	$4,586,088	19.0%
Sub Total	15	14.7%	0	7	$4,589,757	19.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	24	23.5%	7	11	$5,715,713	23.7%
Sub Total	24	23.5%	7	11	$5,715,713	23.7%
Totals	102	100.0%	11	58	$24,109,169	100.0%

Export Table

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.