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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: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 35 13.0% 1 4 $28,834,974 20.5%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 29 10.8% 0 0 $10,203,181 7.2%
Sub Total 64 23.8% 1 4 $39,038,156 27.8%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 11 4.1% 1 2 $6,735,756 4.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 46 17.1% 3 8 $17,267,634 12.3%
Sub Total 57 21.2% 4 10 $24,003,390 17.1%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 11 4.1% 2 1 $4,059,654 2.9%
Sub Total 11 4.1% 2 1 $4,059,654 2.9%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 5 1.8% 0 0 $5,470,767 3.9%
BUTT WELD 9 3.3% 0 0 $9,303,303 6.6%
COMPONENT 7 2.6% 0 0 $3,623,784 2.5%
FILLET WELD 2 0.7% 0 0 $376,573 0.2%
JOINT 5 1.8% 0 0 $992,462 0.7%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 9 3.3% 0 0 $845,062 0.6%
PIPE SEAM WELD 7 2.6% 0 0 $12,172,004 8.6%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 5 1.8% 0 0 $647,147 0.4%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 2 0.7% 0 1 $1,525,375 1.0%
Sub Total 51 19.0% 0 1 $34,956,481 24.9%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 6 2.2% 0 2 $2,008,511 1.4%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 3 1.1% 0 0 $270,055 0.1%
HIGH WINDS 1 0.3% 0 0 $1,668,075 1.1%
LIGHTNING 4 1.4% 0 0 $631,101 0.4%
TEMPERATURE 3 1.1% 0 0 $161,370 0.1%
Sub Total 17 6.3% 0 2 $4,739,115 3.3%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 12 4.4% 2 3 $9,458,612 6.7%
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 2 0.7% 0 0 $153,562 0.1%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 1 0.3% 0 1 $1,148,744 0.8%
VANDALISM 2 0.7% 0 1 $226,642 0.1%
Sub Total 17 6.3% 2 5 $10,987,561 7.8%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 22 8.2% 0 4 $10,882,244 7.7%
UNKNOWN 27 10.0% 6 23 $11,328,461 8.0%
VARIOUS 2 0.7% 0 0 $26,304 0.0%
Sub Total 51 19.0% 6 27 $22,237,009 15.8%
Totals 268 100.0% 15 50 $140,021,368 100.0%
National, All Pipeline Systems, 2007
National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 17 15.8% 0 0 $7,563,490 13.1%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 8 7.4% 0 0 $1,041,235 1.8%
Sub Total 25 23.3% 0 0 $8,604,725 14.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 6 5.6% 0 0 $5,950,485 10.3%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 11 10.2% 0 2 $8,863,311 15.3%
Sub Total 17 15.8% 0 2 $14,813,796 25.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 9 8.4% 2 0 $3,931,952 6.8%
Sub Total 9 8.4% 2 0 $3,931,952 6.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 3 2.8% 0 0 $4,980,591 8.6%
BUTT WELD 4 3.7% 0 0 $232,157 0.4%
COMPONENT 4 3.7% 0 0 $3,081,978 5.3%
FILLET WELD 1 0.9% 0 0 $138,293 0.2%
JOINT 1 0.9% 0 0 $47,829 0.0%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 6 5.6% 0 0 $508,004 0.8%
PIPE SEAM WELD 6 5.6% 0 0 $11,890,362 20.6%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 5 4.6% 0 0 $647,147 1.1%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 1 0.9% 0 0 $1,521,902 2.6%
Sub Total 31 28.9% 0 0 $23,048,268 39.9%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 1 0.9% 0 0 $149,147 0.2%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 3 2.8% 0 0 $270,055 0.4%
LIGHTNING 2 1.8% 0 0 $54,844 0.1%
TEMPERATURE 2 1.8% 0 0 $57,507 0.1%
Sub Total 8 7.4% 0 0 $531,555 0.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 2 1.8% 0 0 $153,562 0.2%
VANDALISM 2 1.8% 0 1 $226,642 0.3%
Sub Total 4 3.7% 0 1 $380,204 0.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 6 5.6% 0 0 $1,698,790 2.9%
UNKNOWN 5 4.6% 2 7 $4,637,941 8.0%
VARIOUS 2 1.8% 0 0 $26,304 0.0%
Sub Total 13 12.1% 2 7 $6,363,036 11.0%
Totals 107 100.0% 4 10 $57,673,541 100.0%
National, Hazardous Liquid, 2007
National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 16 14.9% 0 0 $7,441,967 12.9%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 8 7.4% 0 0 $1,041,235 1.8%
Sub Total 24 22.4% 0 0 $8,483,203 14.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 6 5.6% 0 0 $5,950,485 10.3%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 11 10.2% 0 2 $8,863,311 15.3%
Sub Total 17 15.8% 0 2 $14,813,796 25.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 9 8.4% 2 0 $3,931,952 6.8%
Sub Total 9 8.4% 2 0 $3,931,952 6.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 3 2.8% 0 0 $4,980,591 8.6%
BUTT WELD 4 3.7% 0 0 $232,157 0.4%
COMPONENT 4 3.7% 0 0 $3,081,978 5.3%
FILLET WELD 1 0.9% 0 0 $138,293 0.2%
JOINT 1 0.9% 0 0 $47,829 0.0%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 6 5.6% 0 0 $508,004 0.8%
PIPE SEAM WELD 6 5.6% 0 0 $11,890,362 20.6%
RUPTURED OR LEAKING SEAL/PUMP PACKING 5 4.6% 0 0 $647,147 1.1%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 1 0.9% 0 0 $1,521,902 2.6%
Sub Total 31 28.9% 0 0 $23,048,268 39.9%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 1 0.9% 0 0 $149,147 0.2%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS 3 2.8% 0 0 $270,055 0.4%
LIGHTNING 2 1.8% 0 0 $54,844 0.1%
TEMPERATURE 2 1.8% 0 0 $57,507 0.1%
Sub Total 8 7.4% 0 0 $531,555 0.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE 2 1.8% 0 0 $153,562 0.2%
VANDALISM 2 1.8% 0 1 $226,642 0.3%
Sub Total 4 3.7% 0 1 $380,204 0.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 5 4.6% 0 0 $1,013,026 1.7%
UNKNOWN 5 4.6% 2 7 $4,637,941 8.0%
VARIOUS 2 1.8% 0 0 $26,304 0.0%
Sub Total 12 11.2% 2 7 $5,677,272 9.8%
Totals 105 98.1% 4 10 $56,866,254 98.6%
National, Hazardous Liquid Onshore, 2007
National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 1 0.9% 0 0 $121,522 0.2%
Sub Total 1 0.9% 0 0 $121,522 0.2%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 0.9% 0 0 $685,764 1.1%
Sub Total 1 0.9% 0 0 $685,764 1.1%
Totals 2 1.8% 0 0 $807,286 1.4%
National, Hazardous Liquid Offshore, 2007
National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 17 22.6% 1 2 $21,162,116 36.2%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 13 17.3% 0 0 $6,946,095 11.9%
Sub Total 30 40.0% 1 2 $28,108,212 48.1%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 2 2.6% 0 1 $258,629 0.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 8 10.6% 1 0 $2,042,635 3.5%
Sub Total 10 13.3% 1 1 $2,301,264 3.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 2 2.6% 0 1 $127,701 0.2%
Sub Total 2 2.6% 0 1 $127,701 0.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 1.3% 0 0 $175,882 0.3%
BUTT WELD 5 6.6% 0 0 $9,071,145 15.5%
COMPONENT 2 2.6% 0 0 $333,488 0.5%
FILLET WELD 1 1.3% 0 0 $238,280 0.4%
JOINT 2 2.6% 0 0 $289,828 0.5%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 1.3% 0 0 $129,144 0.2%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 1.3% 0 0 $281,641 0.4%
Sub Total 13 17.3% 0 0 $10,519,411 18.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 2 2.6% 0 0 $1,237,901 2.1%
LIGHTNING 1 1.3% 0 0 $419,423 0.7%
Sub Total 3 4.0% 0 0 $1,657,325 2.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 3 4.0% 0 0 $8,047,457 13.7%
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 1 1.3% 0 1 $1,148,744 1.9%
Sub Total 4 5.3% 0 1 $9,196,201 15.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 10 13.3% 0 2 $5,375,763 9.2%
UNKNOWN 3 4.0% 0 0 $1,074,914 1.8%
Sub Total 13 17.3% 0 2 $6,450,677 11.0%
Totals 75 100.0% 2 7 $58,360,793 100.0%
National, Gas Transmission, 2007
National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 17 22.6% 1 2 $21,162,116 36.2%
CORROSION, INTERNAL 4 5.3% 0 0 $3,532,880 6.0%
Sub Total 21 28.0% 1 2 $24,694,997 42.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 2 2.6% 0 1 $258,629 0.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 8 10.6% 1 0 $2,042,635 3.5%
Sub Total 10 13.3% 1 1 $2,301,264 3.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
INCORRECT OPERATION 2 2.6% 0 1 $127,701 0.2%
Sub Total 2 2.6% 0 1 $127,701 0.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 1.3% 0 0 $175,882 0.3%
BUTT WELD 4 5.3% 0 0 $8,523,986 14.6%
FILLET WELD 1 1.3% 0 0 $238,280 0.4%
JOINT 1 1.3% 0 0 $165,154 0.2%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 1 1.3% 0 0 $129,144 0.2%
PIPE SEAM WELD 1 1.3% 0 0 $281,641 0.4%
Sub Total 9 12.0% 0 0 $9,514,090 16.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 2 2.6% 0 0 $1,237,901 2.1%
LIGHTNING 1 1.3% 0 0 $419,423 0.7%
Sub Total 3 4.0% 0 0 $1,657,325 2.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
RUPTURE OF PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED PIPE 1 1.3% 0 1 $1,148,744 1.9%
Sub Total 1 1.3% 0 1 $1,148,744 1.9%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 9 12.0% 0 2 $4,337,095 7.4%
Sub Total 9 12.0% 0 2 $4,337,095 7.4%
Totals 55 73.3% 2 7 $43,781,219 75.0%
National, Gas Transmission Onshore, 2007
National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, INTERNAL 9 12.0% 0 0 $3,413,214 5.8%
Sub Total 9 12.0% 0 0 $3,413,214 5.8%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BUTT WELD 1 1.3% 0 0 $547,158 0.9%
COMPONENT 2 2.6% 0 0 $333,488 0.5%
JOINT 1 1.3% 0 0 $124,673 0.2%
Sub Total 4 5.3% 0 0 $1,005,320 1.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 3 4.0% 0 0 $8,047,457 13.7%
Sub Total 3 4.0% 0 0 $8,047,457 13.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 1.3% 0 0 $1,038,668 1.7%
UNKNOWN 3 4.0% 0 0 $1,074,914 1.8%
Sub Total 4 5.3% 0 0 $2,113,582 3.6%
Totals 20 26.6% 0 0 $14,579,574 24.9%
National, Gas Transmission Offshore, 2007
National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, INTERNAL 8 80.0% 0 0 $2,215,850 38.5%
Sub Total 8 80.0% 0 0 $2,215,850 38.5%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
JOINT 1 10.0% 0 0 $291,003 5.0%
Sub Total 1 10.0% 0 0 $291,003 5.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 1 10.0% 0 0 $3,234,778 56.3%
Sub Total 1 10.0% 0 0 $3,234,778 56.3%
Totals 10 100.0% 0 0 $5,741,632 100.0%
National, Gas Gathering, 2007
National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 2007
Reported Cause of Incident (C) Number (B) % Fatalities Injuries Property Damage (D) (E) % of Property Damage
CORROSION
CORROSION, EXTERNAL 1 1.3% 0 2 $109,368 0.6%
Sub Total 1 1.3% 0 2 $109,368 0.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE 3 3.9% 1 1 $526,641 2.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE 27 35.5% 2 6 $6,361,687 34.8%
Sub Total 30 39.4% 3 7 $6,888,328 37.7%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
BODY OF PIPE 1 1.3% 0 0 $314,292 1.7%
COMPONENT 1 1.3% 0 0 $208,317 1.1%
JOINT 1 1.3% 0 0 $363,800 1.9%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 2 2.6% 0 0 $207,913 1.1%
THREADS STRIPPED, BROKEN PIPE COUPLING 1 1.3% 0 1 $3,473 0.0%
Sub Total 6 7.8% 0 1 $1,097,797 6.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT 3 3.9% 0 2 $621,463 3.4%
HIGH WINDS 1 1.3% 0 0 $1,668,075 9.1%
LIGHTNING 1 1.3% 0 0 $156,832 0.8%
TEMPERATURE 1 1.3% 0 0 $103,862 0.5%
Sub Total 6 7.8% 0 2 $2,550,234 13.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
CAR, TRUCK OR OTHER VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO... 9 11.8% 2 3 $1,411,155 7.7%
Sub Total 9 11.8% 2 3 $1,411,155 7.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS 5 6.5% 0 2 $572,911 3.1%
UNKNOWN 19 25.0% 4 16 $5,615,605 30.7%
Sub Total 24 31.5% 4 18 $6,188,516 33.9%
Totals 76 100.0% 9 33 $18,245,401 100.0%
National, Gas Distribution, 2007

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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