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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: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number (B)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	24	9.3%	1	3	$12,854,590	9.4%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	32	12.4%	0	0	$16,013,685	11.7%
Sub Total	56	21.7%	1	3	$28,868,275	21.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	2.3%	0	1	$650,491	0.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	37	14.4%	8	13	$13,484,849	9.9%
Sub Total	43	16.7%	8	14	$14,135,341	10.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	11	4.2%	0	3	$1,438,127	1.0%
Sub Total	11	4.2%	0	3	$1,438,127	1.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	3	1.1%	0	0	$498,737	0.3%
BUTT WELD	9	3.5%	0	0	$2,531,198	1.8%
COMPONENT	10	3.8%	0	1	$3,623,030	2.6%
FILLET WELD	4	1.5%	0	0	$1,270,664	0.9%
JOINT	3	1.1%	0	0	$607,500	0.4%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	7	2.7%	0	0	$1,250,591	0.9%
PIPE SEAM WELD	9	3.5%	0	0	$8,198,658	6.0%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	8	3.1%	0	0	$14,102,413	10.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	9	3.5%	0	0	$661,447	0.4%
Sub Total	62	24.1%	0	1	$32,744,242	24.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	0.3%	0	0	$381,589	0.2%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	5	1.9%	0	0	$13,533,601	9.9%
HIGH WINDS	1	0.3%	0	0	$104,311	0.0%
LIGHTNING	4	1.5%	4	1	$6,353,625	4.6%
Sub Total	11	4.2%	4	1	$20,373,127	14.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	19	7.3%	3	4	$9,745,980	7.1%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	3	1.1%	0	1	$169,830	0.1%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	5	1.9%	0	0	$10,476,707	7.7%
VANDALISM	1	0.3%	0	0	$42,457	0.0%
Sub Total	28	10.8%	3	5	$20,434,975	15.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	26	10.1%	0	6	$11,815,686	8.6%
UNKNOWN	20	7.7%	3	2	$6,212,583	4.5%
Sub Total	46	17.9%	3	8	$18,028,270	13.2%
Totals	257	100.0%	19	35	$136,022,360	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	14	13.2%	0	2	$9,910,164	15.1%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	18	16.9%	0	0	$5,318,137	8.1%
Sub Total	32	30.1%	0	2	$15,228,302	23.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	2.8%	0	0	$399,684	0.6%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	10	9.4%	0	0	$3,595,361	5.4%
Sub Total	13	12.2%	0	0	$3,995,046	6.1%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	6	5.6%	0	0	$151,287	0.2%
Sub Total	6	5.6%	0	0	$151,287	0.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	1	0.9%	0	0	$207,022	0.3%
BUTT WELD	2	1.8%	0	0	$688,738	1.0%
COMPONENT	2	1.8%	0	0	$295,667	0.4%
FILLET WELD	4	3.7%	0	0	$1,270,664	1.9%
JOINT	1	0.9%	0	0	$340,026	0.5%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	4	3.7%	0	0	$381,918	0.5%
PIPE SEAM WELD	6	5.6%	0	0	$7,229,204	11.0%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	5	4.7%	0	0	$2,199,954	3.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	7	6.6%	0	0	$236,872	0.3%
Sub Total	32	30.1%	0	0	$12,850,068	19.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	1.8%	0	0	$11,178,597	17.0%
LIGHTNING	3	2.8%	0	0	$6,353,625	9.7%
Sub Total	5	4.7%	0	0	$17,532,222	26.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	2	1.8%	0	0	$6,491,080	9.9%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.9%	0	0	$10,614	0.0%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	2	1.8%	0	0	$6,930,682	10.5%
VANDALISM	1	0.9%	0	0	$42,457	0.0%
Sub Total	6	5.6%	0	0	$13,474,834	20.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	10	9.4%	0	0	$1,421,239	2.1%
UNKNOWN	2	1.8%	0	0	$831,318	1.2%
Sub Total	12	11.3%	0	0	$2,252,558	3.4%
Totals	106	100.0%	0	2	$65,484,319	100.0%

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National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	14	13.2%	0	2	$9,910,164	15.1%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	18	16.9%	0	0	$5,318,137	8.1%
Sub Total	32	30.1%	0	2	$15,228,302	23.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	3	2.8%	0	0	$399,684	0.6%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	10	9.4%	0	0	$3,595,361	5.4%
Sub Total	13	12.2%	0	0	$3,995,046	6.1%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	6	5.6%	0	0	$151,287	0.2%
Sub Total	6	5.6%	0	0	$151,287	0.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	1	0.9%	0	0	$207,022	0.3%
BUTT WELD	2	1.8%	0	0	$688,738	1.0%
COMPONENT	2	1.8%	0	0	$295,667	0.4%
FILLET WELD	4	3.7%	0	0	$1,270,664	1.9%
JOINT	1	0.9%	0	0	$340,026	0.5%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	4	3.7%	0	0	$381,918	0.5%
PIPE SEAM WELD	6	5.6%	0	0	$7,229,204	11.0%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	5	4.7%	0	0	$2,199,954	3.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	7	6.6%	0	0	$236,872	0.3%
Sub Total	32	30.1%	0	0	$12,850,068	19.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	0.9%	0	0	$1,094,873	1.6%
LIGHTNING	3	2.8%	0	0	$6,353,625	9.7%
Sub Total	4	3.7%	0	0	$7,448,498	11.3%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	1	0.9%	0	0	$753,620	1.1%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.9%	0	0	$10,614	0.0%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	2	1.8%	0	0	$6,930,682	10.5%
VANDALISM	1	0.9%	0	0	$42,457	0.0%
Sub Total	5	4.7%	0	0	$7,737,375	11.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	10	9.4%	0	0	$1,421,239	2.1%
UNKNOWN	1	0.9%	0	0	$191,271	0.2%
Sub Total	11	10.3%	0	0	$1,612,510	2.4%
Totals	103	97.1%	0	2	$49,023,089	74.8%

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National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	0.9%	0	0	$10,083,723	15.4%
Sub Total	1	0.9%	0	0	$10,083,723	15.4%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	1	0.9%	0	0	$5,737,459	8.7%
Sub Total	1	0.9%	0	0	$5,737,459	8.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
UNKNOWN	1	0.9%	0	0	$640,047	0.9%
Sub Total	1	0.9%	0	0	$640,047	0.9%
Totals	3	2.8%	0	0	$16,461,230	25.1%

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• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	7	8.8%	0	0	$2,763,446	6.7%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	8	10.1%	0	0	$3,072,318	7.5%
Sub Total	15	18.9%	0	0	$5,835,765	14.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	2.5%	0	0	$249,469	0.6%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	8.8%	3	0	$3,413,451	8.3%
Sub Total	9	11.3%	3	0	$3,662,920	8.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	3	3.8%	0	1	$224,084	0.5%
Sub Total	3	3.8%	0	1	$224,084	0.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	2	2.5%	0	0	$291,714	0.7%
BUTT WELD	7	8.8%	0	0	$1,842,460	4.5%
COMPONENT	6	7.5%	0	0	$3,167,861	7.7%
JOINT	2	2.5%	0	0	$267,474	0.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	3	3.8%	0	0	$868,673	2.1%
PIPE SEAM WELD	3	3.8%	0	0	$969,454	2.3%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	3	3.8%	0	0	$11,902,458	29.2%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	1	1.2%	0	0	$265,359	0.6%
Sub Total	27	34.1%	0	0	$19,575,456	48.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	1.2%	0	0	$381,589	0.9%
Sub Total	1	1.2%	0	0	$381,589	0.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	5	6.3%	0	1	$609,234	1.5%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	2	2.5%	0	1	$159,215	0.3%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	1.2%	0	0	$671,413	1.6%
Sub Total	8	10.1%	0	2	$1,439,864	3.5%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	9	11.3%	0	0	$6,510,213	15.9%
UNKNOWN	7	8.8%	0	1	$3,104,839	7.6%
Sub Total	16	20.2%	0	1	$9,615,052	23.6%
Totals	79	100.0%	3	4	$40,734,734	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	7	8.8%	0	0	$2,763,446	6.7%
CORROSION, INTERNAL	4	5.0%	0	0	$1,818,017	4.4%
Sub Total	11	13.9%	0	0	$4,581,464	11.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	2.5%	0	0	$249,469	0.6%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	7	8.8%	3	0	$3,413,451	8.3%
Sub Total	9	11.3%	3	0	$3,662,920	8.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	3	3.8%	0	1	$224,084	0.5%
Sub Total	3	3.8%	0	1	$224,084	0.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE	2	2.5%	0	0	$291,714	0.7%
BUTT WELD	6	7.5%	0	0	$1,619,410	3.9%
COMPONENT	2	2.5%	0	0	$517,396	1.2%
JOINT	2	2.5%	0	0	$267,474	0.6%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	3	3.8%	0	0	$868,673	2.1%
PIPE SEAM WELD	3	3.8%	0	0	$969,454	2.3%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING	3	3.8%	0	0	$11,902,458	29.2%
Sub Total	21	26.5%	0	0	$16,436,583	40.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	1.2%	0	0	$381,589	0.9%
Sub Total	1	1.2%	0	0	$381,589	0.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	3	3.8%	0	1	$274,841	0.6%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	2	2.5%	0	1	$159,215	0.3%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	1.2%	0	0	$671,413	1.6%
Sub Total	6	7.5%	0	2	$1,105,471	2.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	4	5.0%	0	0	$1,435,391	3.5%
UNKNOWN	5	6.3%	0	1	$2,711,074	6.6%
Sub Total	9	11.3%	0	1	$4,146,465	10.1%
Totals	60	75.9%	3	4	$30,538,579	74.9%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, INTERNAL	4	5.0%	0	0	$1,254,300	3.0%
Sub Total	4	5.0%	0	0	$1,254,300	3.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BUTT WELD	1	1.2%	0	0	$223,049	0.5%
COMPONENT	4	5.0%	0	0	$2,650,464	6.5%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	1	1.2%	0	0	$265,359	0.6%
Sub Total	6	7.5%	0	0	$3,138,873	7.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	2	2.5%	0	0	$334,392	0.8%
Sub Total	2	2.5%	0	0	$334,392	0.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	5	6.3%	0	0	$5,074,821	12.4%
UNKNOWN	2	2.5%	0	0	$393,765	0.9%
Sub Total	7	8.8%	0	0	$5,468,587	13.4%
Totals	19	24.0%	0	0	$10,196,154	25.0%

Export Table

National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, INTERNAL	6	50.0%	0	0	$7,623,229	64.7%
Sub Total	6	50.0%	0	0	$7,623,229	64.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
COMPONENT	2	16.6%	0	1	$159,501	1.3%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING	1	8.3%	0	0	$159,215	1.3%
Sub Total	3	25.0%	0	1	$318,716	2.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	8.3%	0	0	$1,915,017	16.2%
Sub Total	1	8.3%	0	0	$1,915,017	16.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	1	8.3%	0	0	$1,592,156	13.5%
UNKNOWN	1	8.3%	0	0	$318,579	2.7%
Sub Total	2	16.6%	0	0	$1,910,735	16.2%
Totals	12	100.0%	0	1	$11,767,699	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 2006

Reported Cause of Incident (C)	Number (B)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL	3	5.0%	1	1	$180,978	1.0%
Sub Total	3	5.0%	1	1	$180,978	1.0%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	1	1.6%	0	1	$1,337	0.0%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	20	33.3%	5	13	$6,476,036	35.9%
Sub Total	21	35.0%	5	14	$6,477,374	35.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION	2	3.3%	0	2	$1,062,755	5.8%
Sub Total	2	3.3%	0	2	$1,062,755	5.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	3	5.0%	0	0	$2,355,004	13.0%
HIGH WINDS	1	1.6%	0	0	$104,311	0.5%
LIGHTNING	1	1.6%	4	1	$0	0.0%
Sub Total	5	8.3%	4	1	$2,459,316	13.6%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO...	12	20.0%	3	3	$2,645,665	14.6%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE	1	1.6%	0	0	$959,593	5.3%
Sub Total	13	21.6%	3	3	$3,605,259	19.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS	6	10.0%	0	6	$2,292,076	12.7%
UNKNOWN	10	16.6%	3	1	$1,957,846	10.8%
Sub Total	16	26.6%	3	7	$4,249,923	23.5%
Totals	60	100.0%	16	28	$18,035,606	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.