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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: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number (B)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	37	11.9%	1	14	$39,363,439	13.8%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	28	9.0%	0	0	$8,584,314	3.0%
Sub Total	65	20.9%	1	14	$47,947,754	16.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	2.2%	0	1	$1,528,776	0.5%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	54	17.3%	5	7	$19,654,205	6.9%
VARIOUS	8	2.5%	1	2	$2,546,396	0.9%
Sub Total	69	22.1%	6	10	$23,729,379	8.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	13	4.1%	2	9	$1,385,590	0.4%
Sub Total	13	4.1%	2	9	$1,385,590	0.4%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	7	2.2%	0	0	$2,652,548	0.9%
BUTT WELD	2	0.6%	0	0	$169,523	0.0%
COMPONENT	13	4.1%	0	2	$16,023,636	5.6%
FILLET WELD	3	0.9%	0	0	$492,236	0.1%
JOINT	6	1.9%	2	1	$1,973,623	0.7%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	15	4.8%	0	0	$1,698,076	0.6%
PIPE SEAM WELD	2	0.6%	0	0	$312,086	0.1%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	8	2.5%	0	0	$1,270,700	0.4%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	4	1.2%	0	1	$207,222	0.0%
VARIOUS	3	0.9%	0	0	$948,368	0.3%
Sub Total	63	20.2%	2	4	$25,748,024	9.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	9	2.8%	0	1	$67,041,061	23.6%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	16	5.1%	0	1	$23,645,010	8.3%
HIGH WINDS	6	1.9%	0	0	$44,254,662	15.6%
LIGHTNING	3	0.9%	0	0	$3,083,445	1.0%
TEMPERATURE	4	1.2%	3	1	$905,413	0.3%
VARIOUS	8	2.5%	0	4	$2,291,984	0.8%
Sub Total	46	14.7%	3	7	$141,221,578	49.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	16	5.1%	1	2	$11,131,712	3.9%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.3%	0	0	$1,124,448	0.4%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	2	0.6%	0	0	$3,020,186	1.0%
VANDALISM	2	0.6%	0	0	$854,099	0.3%
Sub Total	21	6.7%	1	2	$16,130,447	5.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	20	6.4%	2	6	$3,699,005	1.3%
UNKNOWN	6	1.9%	2	2	$20,656,974	7.2%
VARIOUS	8	2.5%	4	2	$2,957,636	1.0%
Sub Total	34	10.9%	8	10	$27,313,617	9.6%
Totals	311	100.0%	23	56	$283,476,391	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	25	18.6%	0	12	$36,908,066	21.5%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	11	8.2%	0	0	$2,508,524	1.4%
Sub Total	36	26.8%	0	12	$39,416,591	23.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	4.4%	0	0	$1,439,232	0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	17	12.6%	5	3	$7,507,209	4.3%
Sub Total	23	17.1%	5	3	$8,946,441	5.2%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	4	2.9%	0	0	$127,728	0.0%
Sub Total	4	2.9%	0	0	$127,728	0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	2	1.4%	0	0	$1,368,363	0.8%
BUTT WELD	1	0.7%	0	0	$26,122	0.0%
COMPONENT	11	8.2%	0	1	$15,696,875	9.1%
FILLET WELD	2	1.4%	0	0	$203,302	0.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	8	5.9%	0	0	$250,575	0.1%
PIPE SEAM WELD	2	1.4%	0	0	$312,086	0.1%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	8	5.9%	0	0	$1,270,700	0.7%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	3	2.2%	0	0	$207,108	0.1%
Sub Total	37	27.6%	0	1	$19,335,136	11.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	4	2.9%	0	0	$29,246,783	17.1%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	0.7%	0	0	$524,374	0.3%
HIGH WINDS	6	4.4%	0	0	$44,254,662	25.8%
LIGHTNING	3	2.2%	0	0	$3,083,445	1.8%
TEMPERATURE	2	1.4%	0	0	$451,105	0.2%
Sub Total	16	11.9%	0	0	$77,560,371	45.3%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	4	2.9%	0	0	$1,633,529	0.9%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	0.7%	0	0	$2,435,265	1.4%
VANDALISM	1	0.7%	0	0	$729,164	0.4%
Sub Total	6	4.4%	0	0	$4,797,959	2.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	9	6.7%	0	0	$515,798	0.3%
UNKNOWN	2	1.4%	0	0	$20,109,781	11.7%
VARIOUS	1	0.7%	0	0	$194,307	0.1%
Sub Total	12	8.9%	0	0	$20,819,888	12.1%
Totals	134	100.0%	5	16	$171,004,117	100.0%

Export Table

National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	25	18.6%	0	12	$36,908,066	21.5%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	11	8.2%	0	0	$2,508,524	1.4%
Sub Total	36	26.8%	0	12	$39,416,591	23.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	4.4%	0	0	$1,439,232	0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	17	12.6%	5	3	$7,507,209	4.3%
Sub Total	23	17.1%	5	3	$8,946,441	5.2%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	4	2.9%	0	0	$127,728	0.0%
Sub Total	4	2.9%	0	0	$127,728	0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	2	1.4%	0	0	$1,368,363	0.8%
BUTT WELD	1	0.7%	0	0	$26,122	0.0%
COMPONENT	10	7.4%	0	1	$2,067,615	1.2%
FILLET WELD	2	1.4%	0	0	$203,302	0.1%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	8	5.9%	0	0	$250,575	0.1%
PIPE SEAM WELD	2	1.4%	0	0	$312,086	0.1%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	7	5.2%	0	0	$698,272	0.4%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	3	2.2%	0	0	$207,108	0.1%
Sub Total	35	26.1%	0	1	$5,133,448	3.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	3	2.2%	0	0	$1,988,070	1.1%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	0.7%	0	0	$524,374	0.3%
HIGH WINDS	1	0.7%	0	0	$16,613,365	9.7%
LIGHTNING	3	2.2%	0	0	$3,083,445	1.8%
TEMPERATURE	2	1.4%	0	0	$451,105	0.2%
Sub Total	10	7.4%	0	0	$22,660,361	13.2%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	3	2.2%	0	0	$497,759	0.2%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	0.7%	0	0	$2,435,265	1.4%
VANDALISM	1	0.7%	0	0	$729,164	0.4%
Sub Total	5	3.7%	0	0	$3,662,188	2.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	9	6.7%	0	0	$515,798	0.3%
UNKNOWN	1	0.7%	0	0	$119,998	0.0%
VARIOUS	1	0.7%	0	0	$194,307	0.1%
Sub Total	11	8.2%	0	0	$830,104	0.4%
Totals	124	92.5%	5	16	$80,776,866	47.2%

Export Table

National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT	1	0.7%	0	0	$13,629,259	7.9%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	1	0.7%	0	0	$572,428	0.3%
Sub Total	2	1.4%	0	0	$14,201,688	8.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	0.7%	0	0	$27,258,712	15.9%
HIGH WINDS	5	3.7%	0	0	$27,641,297	16.1%
Sub Total	6	4.4%	0	0	$54,900,009	32.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	1	0.7%	0	0	$1,135,770	0.6%
Sub Total	1	0.7%	0	0	$1,135,770	0.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
UNKNOWN	1	0.7%	0	0	$19,989,783	11.6%
Sub Total	1	0.7%	0	0	$19,989,783	11.6%
Totals	10	7.4%	0	0	$90,227,251	52.7%

Export Table

• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	6	9.6%	0	0	$1,400,470	3.4%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	12	19.3%	0	0	$4,124,676	10.2%
Sub Total	18	29.0%	0	0	$5,525,146	13.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.6%	0	1	$89,544	0.2%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	12	19.3%	0	0	$2,548,968	6.3%
Sub Total	13	20.9%	0	1	$2,638,512	6.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	1	1.6%	0	0	$98,987	0.2%
Sub Total	1	1.6%	0	0	$98,987	0.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	4	6.4%	0	0	$700,154	1.7%
BUTT WELD	1	1.6%	0	0	$143,400	0.3%
COMPONENT	1	1.6%	0	0	$326,761	0.8%
FILLET WELD	1	1.6%	0	0	$288,934	0.7%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	6	9.6%	0	0	$1,354,822	3.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	1	1.6%	0	1	$113	0.0%
Sub Total	14	22.5%	0	1	$2,814,186	7.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	7	11.2%	0	0	$20,328,245	50.7%
Sub Total	7	11.2%	0	0	$20,328,245	50.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	4	6.4%	0	0	$6,159,072	15.3%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	1.6%	0	0	$1,124,448	2.8%
Sub Total	5	8.0%	0	0	$7,283,521	18.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	3	4.8%	0	0	$1,268,579	3.1%
UNKNOWN	1	1.6%	0	0	$141,268	0.3%
Sub Total	4	6.4%	0	0	$1,409,847	3.5%
Totals	62	100.0%	0	2	$40,098,448	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	5	8.0%	0	0	$1,205,636	3.0%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	1	1.6%	0	0	$174,901	0.4%
Sub Total	6	9.6%	0	0	$1,380,538	3.4%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.6%	0	1	$89,544	0.2%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	12	19.3%	0	0	$2,548,968	6.3%
Sub Total	13	20.9%	0	1	$2,638,512	6.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	1	1.6%	0	0	$98,987	0.2%
Sub Total	1	1.6%	0	0	$98,987	0.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	4	6.4%	0	0	$700,154	1.7%
BUTT WELD	1	1.6%	0	0	$143,400	0.3%
COMPONENT	1	1.6%	0	0	$326,761	0.8%
FILLET WELD	1	1.6%	0	0	$288,934	0.7%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	6	9.6%	0	0	$1,354,822	3.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	1	1.6%	0	1	$113	0.0%
Sub Total	14	22.5%	0	1	$2,814,186	7.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	3.2%	0	0	$646,926	1.6%
Sub Total	2	3.2%	0	0	$646,926	1.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	2	3.2%	0	0	$471,781	1.1%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	1.6%	0	0	$1,124,448	2.8%
Sub Total	3	4.8%	0	0	$1,596,230	3.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	3	4.8%	0	0	$1,268,579	3.1%
UNKNOWN	1	1.6%	0	0	$141,268	0.3%
Sub Total	4	6.4%	0	0	$1,409,847	3.5%
Totals	43	69.3%	0	2	$10,585,230	26.4%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	1	1.6%	0	0	$194,833	0.4%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	11	17.7%	0	0	$3,949,774	9.8%
Sub Total	12	19.3%	0	0	$4,144,608	10.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	5	8.0%	0	0	$19,681,319	49.0%
Sub Total	5	8.0%	0	0	$19,681,319	49.0%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	2	3.2%	0	0	$5,687,290	14.1%
Sub Total	2	3.2%	0	0	$5,687,290	14.1%
Totals	19	30.6%	0	0	$29,513,217	73.6%

Export Table

National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	1	8.3%	0	0	$104,666	0.2%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	5	41.6%	0	0	$1,951,113	5.2%
Sub Total	6	50.0%	0	0	$2,055,780	5.5%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	8.3%	0	0	$113,577	0.3%
Sub Total	1	8.3%	0	0	$113,577	0.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	1	8.3%	0	1	$22,715	0.0%
Sub Total	1	8.3%	0	1	$22,715	0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
JOINT	1	8.3%	0	0	$92,085	0.2%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	1	8.3%	0	0	$92,678	0.2%
Sub Total	2	16.6%	0	0	$184,763	0.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	16.6%	0	0	$34,554,212	93.5%
Sub Total	2	16.6%	0	0	$34,554,212	93.5%
Totals	12	100.0%	0	1	$36,931,049	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 2004

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number (B)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	5	4.8%	1	2	$950,236	2.6%
Sub Total	5	4.8%	1	2	$950,236	2.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	24	23.3%	0	4	$9,484,450	26.7%
VARIOUS	8	7.7%	1	2	$2,546,396	7.1%
Sub Total	32	31.0%	1	6	$12,030,847	33.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	7	6.8%	2	8	$1,136,159	3.2%
Sub Total	7	6.8%	2	8	$1,136,159	3.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	1	0.9%	0	0	$584,030	1.6%
COMPONENT	1	0.9%	0	1	$0	0.0%
JOINT	5	4.8%	2	1	$1,881,538	5.3%
VARIOUS	3	2.9%	0	0	$948,368	2.6%
Sub Total	10	9.7%	2	2	$3,413,937	9.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	3	2.9%	0	1	$3,240,065	9.1%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	8	7.7%	0	1	$2,792,390	7.8%
TEMPERATURE	2	1.9%	3	1	$454,308	1.2%
VARIOUS	8	7.7%	0	4	$2,291,984	6.4%
Sub Total	21	20.3%	3	7	$8,778,748	24.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	8	7.7%	1	2	$3,339,110	9.4%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	0.9%	0	0	$584,921	1.6%
VANDALISM	1	0.9%	0	0	$124,934	0.3%
Sub Total	10	9.7%	1	2	$4,048,967	11.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	8	7.7%	2	6	$1,914,627	5.4%
UNKNOWN	3	2.9%	2	2	$405,924	1.1%
VARIOUS	7	6.8%	4	2	$2,763,328	7.8%
Sub Total	18	17.4%	8	10	$5,083,880	14.3%
Totals	103	100.0%	18	37	$35,442,777	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.