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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 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: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	21	7.6%	0	0	$14,208,432	8.2%
INTERNAL CORROSION	23	8.3%	0	0	$10,511,384	6.0%
Sub Total	44	16.0%	0	0	$24,719,817	14.3%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	6	2.1%	0	0	$821,018	0.4%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	34	12.3%	1	7	$12,127,392	7.0%
Sub Total	40	14.5%	1	7	$12,948,411	7.5%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	20	7.2%	4	10	$10,660,675	6.1%
Sub Total	20	7.2%	4	10	$10,660,675	6.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	3	1.0%	0	3	$4,159,065	2.4%
BODY OF PIPE	6	2.1%	0	0	$13,356,350	7.7%
PIPE SEAM	5	1.8%	0	0	$1,646,037	0.9%
BUTT WELD	9	3.2%	0	0	$12,102,494	7.0%
FILLET WELD	3	1.0%	0	0	$859,078	0.5%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	15	5.4%	0	2	$5,174,925	3.0%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	11	4.0%	0	0	$3,349,830	1.9%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	10	3.6%	0	0	$2,207,031	1.2%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	12	4.3%	0	1	$2,379,737	1.3%
Sub Total	74	26.9%	0	6	$45,234,552	26.2%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	9	3.2%	1	4	$4,540,785	2.6%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	8	2.9%	0	0	$11,252,870	6.5%
LIGHTNING	3	1.0%	0	0	$3,611,988	2.0%
TEMPERATURE	4	1.4%	0	2	$1,826,383	1.0%
HIGH WINDS	2	0.7%	0	0	$11,172,070	6.4%
Sub Total	26	9.4%	1	6	$32,404,097	18.7%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	4	1.4%	0	2	$7,315,784	4.2%
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	25	9.0%	5	17	$9,251,411	5.3%
PREVIOUS MECHANICAL DAMAGE	1	0.3%	0	0	$88,946	0.0%
INTENTIONAL DAMAGE	4	1.4%	0	1	$2,361,243	1.3%
Sub Total	34	12.3%	5	20	$19,017,386	11.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	23	8.3%	1	7	$14,127,629	8.1%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	14	5.0%	1	6	$13,516,995	7.8%
Sub Total	37	13.4%	2	13	$27,644,624	16.0%
Totals	275	100.0%	13	62	$172,629,565	100.0%

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• All Hazardous Liquid Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Hazardous Liquid: Significant Incident Details: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	15	13.7%	0	0	$10,616,138	14.4%
INTERNAL CORROSION	8	7.3%	0	0	$2,766,333	3.7%
Sub Total	23	21.1%	0	0	$13,382,471	18.2%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	4	3.6%	0	0	$622,126	0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	12	11.0%	0	0	$4,026,272	5.4%
Sub Total	16	14.6%	0	0	$4,648,399	6.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	14	12.8%	4	3	$10,342,310	14.1%
Sub Total	14	12.8%	4	3	$10,342,310	14.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	1	0.9%	0	0	$2,883,756	3.9%
BODY OF PIPE	4	3.6%	0	0	$10,544,524	14.3%
PIPE SEAM	3	2.7%	0	0	$1,242,842	1.6%
BUTT WELD	3	2.7%	0	0	$1,200,582	1.6%
FILLET WELD	2	1.8%	0	0	$740,047	1.0%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	7	6.4%	0	0	$1,461,644	1.9%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	3	2.7%	0	0	$748,900	1.0%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	5	4.5%	0	0	$1,518,245	2.0%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	10	9.1%	0	0	$2,071,963	2.8%
Sub Total	38	34.8%	0	0	$22,412,507	30.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	0.9%	0	0	$133,648	0.1%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	1.8%	0	0	$4,929,856	6.7%
LIGHTNING	2	1.8%	0	0	$3,368,542	4.5%
TEMPERATURE	2	1.8%	0	0	$336,016	0.4%
HIGH WINDS	2	1.8%	0	0	$11,172,070	15.2%
Sub Total	9	8.2%	0	0	$19,940,133	27.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.9%	0	0	$169,910	0.2%
INTENTIONAL DAMAGE	1	0.9%	0	1	$1,324,384	1.8%
Sub Total	2	1.8%	0	1	$1,494,294	2.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	6	5.5%	0	0	$882,112	1.2%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	1	0.9%	0	0	$260,316	0.3%
Sub Total	7	6.4%	0	0	$1,142,428	1.5%
Totals	109	100.0%	4	4	$73,362,546	100.0%

Export Table

National Hazardous Liquid Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	13	11.9%	0	0	$10,375,605	14.1%
INTERNAL CORROSION	8	7.3%	0	0	$2,766,333	3.7%
Sub Total	21	19.2%	0	0	$13,141,939	17.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	4	3.6%	0	0	$622,126	0.8%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	12	11.0%	0	0	$4,026,272	5.4%
Sub Total	16	14.6%	0	0	$4,648,399	6.3%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	14	12.8%	4	3	$10,342,310	14.1%
Sub Total	14	12.8%	4	3	$10,342,310	14.1%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	1	0.9%	0	0	$2,883,756	3.9%
BODY OF PIPE	4	3.6%	0	0	$10,544,524	14.3%
PIPE SEAM	3	2.7%	0	0	$1,242,842	1.6%
BUTT WELD	3	2.7%	0	0	$1,200,582	1.6%
FILLET WELD	2	1.8%	0	0	$740,047	1.0%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	7	6.4%	0	0	$1,461,644	1.9%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	3	2.7%	0	0	$748,900	1.0%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	5	4.5%	0	0	$1,518,245	2.0%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	10	9.1%	0	0	$2,071,963	2.8%
Sub Total	38	34.8%	0	0	$22,412,507	30.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	1	0.9%	0	0	$133,648	0.1%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	1.8%	0	0	$4,929,856	6.7%
LIGHTNING	2	1.8%	0	0	$3,368,542	4.5%
TEMPERATURE	2	1.8%	0	0	$336,016	0.4%
HIGH WINDS	1	0.9%	0	0	$6,591	0.0%
Sub Total	8	7.3%	0	0	$8,774,654	11.9%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	1	0.9%	0	0	$169,910	0.2%
INTENTIONAL DAMAGE	1	0.9%	0	1	$1,324,384	1.8%
Sub Total	2	1.8%	0	1	$1,494,294	2.0%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	6	5.5%	0	0	$882,112	1.2%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	1	0.9%	0	0	$260,316	0.3%
Sub Total	7	6.4%	0	0	$1,142,428	1.5%
Totals	106	97.2%	4	4	$61,956,534	84.4%

Export Table

National Hazardous Liquid Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	2	1.8%	0	0	$240,532	0.3%
Sub Total	2	1.8%	0	0	$240,532	0.3%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HIGH WINDS	1	0.9%	0	0	$11,165,479	15.2%
Sub Total	1	0.9%	0	0	$11,165,479	15.2%
Totals	3	2.7%	0	0	$11,406,011	15.5%

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• All Gas Transmission Systems
• Onshore Only
• Offshore Only

National Gas Transmission: Significant Incident Details: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	5	6.8%	0	0	$3,092,116	5.5%
INTERNAL CORROSION	7	9.5%	0	0	$3,446,954	6.1%
Sub Total	12	16.4%	0	0	$6,539,070	11.7%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	5	6.8%	0	0	$3,864,364	6.9%
Sub Total	5	6.8%	0	0	$3,864,364	6.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	1	1.3%	0	1	$1,041	0.0%
Sub Total	1	1.3%	0	1	$1,041	0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	2	2.7%	0	3	$1,275,308	2.2%
BODY OF PIPE	2	2.7%	0	0	$2,811,826	5.0%
PIPE SEAM	2	2.7%	0	0	$403,194	0.7%
BUTT WELD	6	8.2%	0	0	$10,901,912	19.5%
FILLET WELD	1	1.3%	0	0	$119,031	0.2%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	2	2.7%	0	0	$573,452	1.0%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	6	8.2%	0	0	$1,107,083	1.9%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	4	5.4%	0	0	$480,095	0.8%
Sub Total	25	34.2%	0	3	$17,671,906	31.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	2.7%	0	0	$1,101,838	1.9%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	5	6.8%	0	0	$5,281,749	9.4%
LIGHTNING	1	1.3%	0	0	$243,445	0.4%
Sub Total	8	10.9%	0	0	$6,627,034	11.8%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	3	4.1%	0	2	$7,145,874	12.8%
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	7	9.5%	0	1	$4,913,400	8.8%
PREVIOUS MECHANICAL DAMAGE	1	1.3%	0	0	$88,946	0.1%
Sub Total	11	15.0%	0	3	$12,148,221	21.7%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	10	13.7%	0	4	$8,804,431	15.7%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	1	1.3%	0	0	$115,781	0.2%
Sub Total	11	15.0%	0	4	$8,920,212	15.9%
Totals	73	100.0%	0	11	$55,771,850	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Onshore: Significant Incident Details: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	4	5.4%	0	0	$2,970,512	5.3%
INTERNAL CORROSION	1	1.3%	0	0	$200,927	0.3%
Sub Total	5	6.8%	0	0	$3,171,440	5.6%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	5	6.8%	0	0	$3,864,364	6.9%
Sub Total	5	6.8%	0	0	$3,864,364	6.9%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	1	1.3%	0	1	$1,041	0.0%
Sub Total	1	1.3%	0	1	$1,041	0.0%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED	2	2.7%	0	3	$1,275,308	2.2%
BODY OF PIPE	2	2.7%	0	0	$2,811,826	5.0%
PIPE SEAM	2	2.7%	0	0	$403,194	0.7%
BUTT WELD	6	8.2%	0	0	$10,901,912	19.5%
FILLET WELD	1	1.3%	0	0	$119,031	0.2%
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	2	2.7%	0	0	$573,452	1.0%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	6	8.2%	0	0	$1,107,083	1.9%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	4	5.4%	0	0	$480,095	0.8%
Sub Total	25	34.2%	0	3	$17,671,906	31.6%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	2	2.7%	0	0	$1,101,838	1.9%
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	3	4.1%	0	0	$598,626	1.0%
LIGHTNING	1	1.3%	0	0	$243,445	0.4%
Sub Total	6	8.2%	0	0	$1,943,910	3.4%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE	3	4.1%	0	2	$7,145,874	12.8%
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	5	6.8%	0	1	$2,318,201	4.1%
PREVIOUS MECHANICAL DAMAGE	1	1.3%	0	0	$88,946	0.1%
Sub Total	9	12.3%	0	3	$9,553,022	17.1%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	8	10.9%	0	4	$7,210,879	12.9%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	1	1.3%	0	0	$115,781	0.2%
Sub Total	9	12.3%	0	4	$7,326,661	13.1%
Totals	60	82.1%	0	11	$43,532,346	78.0%

Export Table

National Gas Transmission Offshore: Significant Incident Details: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	1.3%	0	0	$121,603	0.2%
INTERNAL CORROSION	6	8.2%	0	0	$3,246,026	5.8%
Sub Total	7	9.5%	0	0	$3,367,629	6.0%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	2	2.7%	0	0	$4,683,123	8.4%
Sub Total	2	2.7%	0	0	$4,683,123	8.4%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	2	2.7%	0	0	$2,595,198	4.6%
Sub Total	2	2.7%	0	0	$2,595,198	4.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	2	2.7%	0	0	$1,593,551	2.8%
Sub Total	2	2.7%	0	0	$1,593,551	2.8%
Totals	13	17.8%	0	0	$12,239,503	21.9%

Export Table

National Gas Gathering: Significant Incident Details: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
INTERNAL CORROSION	8	61.5%	0	0	$4,298,096	23.3%
Sub Total	8	61.5%	0	0	$4,298,096	23.3%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	1	7.6%	0	0	$2,312,243	12.5%
THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE	1	7.6%	0	0	$208,689	1.1%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	1	7.6%	0	0	$151,584	0.8%
Sub Total	3	23.0%	0	0	$2,672,517	14.5%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
HEAVY RAINS/FLOODS	1	7.6%	0	0	$1,041,264	5.6%
Sub Total	1	7.6%	0	0	$1,041,264	5.6%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
UNKNOWN CAUSE	1	7.6%	0	0	$10,409,222	56.5%
Sub Total	1	7.6%	0	0	$10,409,222	56.5%
Totals	13	100.0%	0	0	$18,421,101	100.0%

Export Table

National Gas Distribution: Significant Incident Details: 2009

Reported Cause of Incident (B)	Number (C)	%	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage (D) (E)	% of Property Damage
CORROSION
EXTERNAL CORROSION	1	1.2%	0	0	$500,178	1.9%
Sub Total	1	1.2%	0	0	$500,178	1.9%
EXCAVATION DAMAGE
OPERATOR/CONTRACTOR EXCAVATION DAMAGE	2	2.5%	0	0	$198,892	0.7%
THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION DAMAGE	17	21.2%	1	7	$4,236,755	16.9%
Sub Total	19	23.7%	1	7	$4,435,647	17.6%
INCORRECT OPERATION
UNSPECIFIED INCORRECT OPERATION	5	6.2%	0	6	$317,323	1.2%
Sub Total	5	6.2%	0	6	$317,323	1.2%
MAT'L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE
JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT	5	6.2%	0	2	$827,584	3.3%
MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT	2	2.5%	0	0	$1,493,846	5.9%
NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE	1	1.2%	0	1	$156,189	0.6%
Sub Total	8	10.0%	0	3	$2,477,620	9.8%
NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
EARTH MOVEMENT	6	7.5%	1	4	$3,305,298	13.1%
TEMPERATURE	2	2.5%	0	2	$1,490,367	5.9%
Sub Total	8	10.0%	1	6	$4,795,665	19.1%
OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION	18	22.5%	5	16	$4,338,010	17.3%
INTENTIONAL DAMAGE	3	3.7%	0	0	$1,036,859	4.1%
Sub Total	21	26.2%	5	16	$5,374,870	21.4%
ALL OTHER CAUSES
MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE	7	8.7%	1	3	$4,441,085	17.7%
UNKNOWN CAUSE	11	13.7%	1	6	$2,731,675	10.8%
Sub Total	18	22.5%	2	9	$7,172,760	28.6%
Totals	80	100.0%	9	47	$25,074,067	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.