PHMSA uses specific criterion to identify which incidents are significant from a pipeline safety viewpoint.
PHMSA defines Significant Incidents as those incidents reported by pipeline operators when any of the following conditions are met:
- fatality or injury requiring in-patient hospitalization
- $50,000 or more in total costs, measured in 1984 dollars
- highly volatile liquid releases of 5 barrels or more or other liquid releases of 50 barrels or more
- liquid releases resulting in an unintentional fire or explosion
PHMSA established a cost reporting threshold of $50,000 for gas pipeline incidents in 1984. Since then, inflation and the rapid rise in the cost of natural gas have caused the cost of incidents to rise significantly along with an increase in the number of incidents reported. To account for the cost increases, PHMSA now considers incidents significant from a cost perspective if they exceed a total cost of $50,000 in 1984 dollars.
We have converted the cost of gas lost during a pipeline incident using the Energy Information Administration, Natural Gas City Gate Prices.(A) (1) For all other costs, we applied the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Government Printing Office inflation values.(A) (2) The costs shown in the tables are in adjusted dollars.
The tables below show the number of Significant Incidents in a year for each type of pipeline operator. Each year and selected column totals provide links to focused reports showing the causes of the corresponding incidents.
The data source for this table is the PHMSA Filtered Incident Files.(3) (4) (5)
Where appropriate, the table columns can be sorted by clicking the corresponding column header.
There is also a designation for Serious Incident which counts only incidents involving a fatality or injury. See Serious Pipeline Incidents for information on this smaller subset of incidents.
More Pipeline Incidents and Mileage Reports are available.
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) | Gross Barrels Lost | Net Barrels Lost (C) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 320 | 27 | 144 | $81,290,836 | 198,111 | 114,410 |
1989 | 277 | 45 | 157 | $53,649,360 | 201,504 | 122,745 |
1990 | 253 | 9 | 76 | $46,900,903 | 123,827 | 54,443 |
1991 | 279 | 14 | 98 | $76,660,087 | 200,210 | 55,575 |
1992 | 284 | 15 | 118 | $92,248,525 | 136,769 | 68,647 |
1993 | 293 | 17 | 111 | $84,669,400 | 116,132 | 57,218 |
1994 | 326 | 22 | (D) 120 | $204,554,318 | 163,920 | 113,785 |
1995 | 259 | 21 | 64 | $64,943,216 | 109,931 | 52,963 |
1996 | 301 | 53 | 127 | $139,924,393 | 160,188 | 100,854 |
1997 | 267 | 10 | 77 | $94,744,378 | 195,421 | 103,114 |
1998 | 295 | 21 | 81 | $149,827,833 | 149,348 | 60,725 |
1999 | 275 | 22 | 108 | $153,020,758 | 167,082 | 104,445 |
2000 | 290 | 38 | 81 | $221,214,517 | 108,614 | 56,945 |
2001 | 233 | 7 | 61 | $67,951,894 | 98,046 | 77,329 |
2002 | 258 | 12 | 49 | $113,731,682 | 95,663 | 77,268 |
2003 | 296 | 12 | 71 | $135,834,910 | 80,041 | 50,454 |
2004 | 330 | 23 | 60 | $274,554,732 | 88,145 | 68,508 |
2005 | 358 | 16 | 48 | (E) $1,087,123,124 | 137,050 | 45,816 |
2006 | 271 | 19 | 33 | $132,144,446 | 136,500 | 53,963 |
2007 | 284 | 15 | 53 | $132,739,992 | 89,620 | 68,460 |
2008 YTD | 211 | 3 | 43 | $257,232,335 | 115,601 | 90,550 |
Totals | 5,960 | 421 | 1,780 | $3,664,961,647 | 2,871,725 | 1,598,220 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 308 | 17 | 53 | $352,479,441 | 106,271 | 57,441 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 289 | 19 | 65 | $246,814,389 | 115,011 | 66,392 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 287 | 21 | 87 | $170,386,466 | 137,806 | 75,384 |
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) | Gross Barrels Lost | Net Barrels Lost (C) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 167 | 2 | 19 | $49,820,283 | 198,111 | 114,410 |
1989 | 136 | 3 | 38 | $12,596,314 | 201,504 | 122,745 |
1990 | 140 | 3 | 7 | $21,939,754 | 123,827 | 54,443 |
1991 | 166 | 0 | 9 | $51,695,028 | 200,210 | 55,575 |
1992 | 170 | 5 | 38 | $51,823,655 | 136,769 | 68,647 |
1993 | 154 | 0 | 10 | $36,803,605 | 116,132 | 57,218 |
1994 | 178 | 1 | (D) 7 | $79,327,350 | 163,920 | 113,785 |
1995 | 156 | 3 | 11 | $40,266,453 | 109,931 | 52,963 |
1996 | 174 | 5 | 13 | $105,735,598 | 160,188 | 100,854 |
1997 | 162 | 0 | 5 | $67,333,200 | 195,421 | 103,114 |
1998 | 140 | 2 | 6 | $76,158,741 | 149,348 | 60,725 |
1999 | 147 | 4 | 20 | $102,455,432 | 167,082 | 104,445 |
2000 | 135 | 1 | 4 | $175,984,764 | 108,614 | 56,945 |
2001 | 108 | 0 | 10 | $28,117,803 | 98,046 | 77,329 |
2002 | 133 | 1 | 0 | $52,517,870 | 95,663 | 77,268 |
2003 | 120 | 0 | 5 | $54,538,762 | 80,041 | 50,454 |
2004 | 134 | 5 | 16 | $159,374,542 | 88,145 | 68,508 |
2005 | 127 | 2 | 2 | $158,689,415 | 137,050 | 45,816 |
2006 | 108 | 0 | 2 | $62,150,187 | 136,500 | 53,963 |
2007 | 106 | 4 | 10 | $49,885,665 | 89,620 | 68,460 |
2008 YTD | 77 | 0 | 1 | $41,267,260 | 115,601 | 90,550 |
Totals | 2,938 | 41 | 233 | $1,478,481,688 | 2,871,725 | 1,598,220 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 119 | 2 | 7 | $96,927,715 | 106,271 | 57,441 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 126 | 2 | 8 | $91,987,319 | 115,011 | 66,392 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 143 | 2 | 12 | $71,860,721 | 137,806 | 75,384 |
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) | Gross Barrels Lost | Net Barrels Lost (C) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 164 | 2 | 19 | $49,230,900 | 182,478 | 98,777 |
1989 | 135 | 3 | 38 | $11,847,846 | 201,494 | 122,735 |
1990 | 137 | 3 | 7 | $21,571,707 | 122,825 | 53,443 |
1991 | 165 | 0 | 9 | $50,790,811 | 200,209 | 55,574 |
1992 | 165 | 5 | 38 | $47,542,391 | 133,778 | 66,841 |
1993 | 152 | 0 | 10 | $35,366,589 | 115,764 | 57,165 |
1994 | 176 | 1 | (D) 7 | $78,963,641 | 159,670 | 109,535 |
1995 | 154 | 3 | 11 | $39,375,923 | 109,928 | 52,960 |
1996 | 171 | 5 | 13 | $104,774,471 | 153,622 | 94,288 |
1997 | 153 | 0 | 5 | $51,625,227 | 188,935 | 99,256 |
1998 | 131 | 2 | 6 | $63,178,505 | 138,078 | 51,190 |
1999 | 141 | 4 | 20 | $96,380,171 | 162,839 | 100,446 |
2000 | 128 | 1 | 4 | $154,206,614 | 106,318 | 54,655 |
2001 | 104 | 0 | 10 | $26,585,753 | 98,040 | 77,323 |
2002 | 129 | 1 | 0 | $50,401,042 | 95,649 | 77,254 |
2003 | 120 | 0 | 5 | $54,538,762 | 80,041 | 50,454 |
2004 | 124 | 5 | 16 | $72,503,033 | 76,229 | 58,053 |
2005 | 118 | 2 | 2 | $126,702,928 | 136,006 | 44,772 |
2006 | 105 | 0 | 2 | $46,301,185 | 135,931 | 53,394 |
2007 | 104 | 4 | 10 | $49,108,403 | 89,609 | 68,460 |
2008 YTD | 77 | 0 | 1 | $41,267,260 | 115,601 | 90,550 |
Totals | 2,853 | 41 | 233 | $1,272,263,171 | 2,803,045 | 1,537,127 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 114 | 2 | 7 | $69,830,863 | 103,563 | 55,027 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 120 | 2 | 8 | $73,990,640 | 111,874 | 63,600 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 139 | 2 | 12 | $61,549,796 | 134,372 | 72,329 |
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) | Gross Barrels Lost | Net Barrels Lost (C) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $589,382 | 15,633 | 15,633 |
1989 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $748,468 | 10 | 10 |
1990 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $368,047 | 1,002 | 1,000 |
1991 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $904,217 | 1 | 1 |
1992 | 5 | 0 | 0 | $4,281,264 | 2,991 | 1,806 |
1993 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $1,437,015 | 368 | 53 |
1994 | 2 | 0 | (D) 0 | $363,708 | 4,250 | 4,250 |
1995 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $890,529 | 3 | 3 |
1996 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $961,127 | 6,566 | 6,566 |
1997 | 9 | 0 | 0 | $15,707,972 | 6,486 | 3,858 |
1998 | 9 | 0 | 0 | $12,980,236 | 11,270 | 9,535 |
1999 | 6 | 0 | 0 | $6,075,260 | 4,243 | 3,999 |
2000 | 7 | 0 | 0 | $21,778,150 | 2,296 | 2,290 |
2001 | 4 | 0 | 0 | $1,532,049 | 6 | 6 |
2002 | 5 | 0 | 0 | $2,212,659 | 137 | 19 |
2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 |
2004 | 10 | 0 | 0 | $86,871,508 | 11,916 | 10,455 |
2005 | 9 | 0 | 0 | $31,986,486 | 1,043 | 1,043 |
2006 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $15,849,002 | 569 | 569 |
2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $777,262 | 11 | 0 |
2008 YTD | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals | 86 | 0 | 0 | $206,314,348 | 68,802 | 61,097 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 5 | 0 | 0 | $27,096,852 | 2,708 | 2,414 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 6 | 0 | 0 | $18,006,262 | 3,149 | 2,792 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 4 | 0 | 0 | $10,315,717 | 3,440 | 3,055 |
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 39 | 2 | 9 | $13,287,117 |
1989 | 40 | 22 | 28 | $26,773,480 |
1990 | 46 | 0 | 17 | $14,780,394 |
1991 | 29 | 0 | 11 | $14,764,934 |
1992 | 42 | 3 | 14 | $30,877,040 |
1993 | 50 | 1 | 16 | $28,724,831 |
1994 | 45 | 0 | 22 | $55,873,060 |
1995 | 32 | 2 | 7 | $11,832,909 |
1996 | 43 | 1 | 5 | $15,000,149 |
1997 | 33 | 1 | 5 | $12,908,845 |
1998 | 51 | 1 | 11 | $48,907,159 |
1999 | 38 | 2 | 8 | $20,327,638 |
2000 | 54 | 15 | 16 | $18,836,127 |
2001 | 50 | 2 | 5 | $14,628,177 |
2002 | 56 | 1 | 4 | $34,558,620 |
2003 | 69 | 1 | 8 | $56,232,363 |
2004 | 62 | 0 | 2 | $38,262,823 |
2005 | 109 | 0 | 5 | $237,060,084 |
2006 | 79 | 3 | 4 | $38,827,402 |
2007 | 76 | 2 | 7 | $53,907,130 |
2008 YTD | 46 | 0 | 3 | $120,955,570 |
Totals | 1,089 | 59 | 207 | $907,325,861 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 79 | 1 | 5 | $84,857,961 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 64 | 3 | 7 | $56,154,753 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 52 | 3 | 10 | $39,318,515 |
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 31 | 2 | 9 | $6,707,494 |
1989 | 29 | 4 | 15 | $16,303,907 |
1990 | 36 | 0 | 15 | $12,752,888 |
1991 | 27 | 0 | 11 | $14,456,387 |
1992 | 32 | 3 | 14 | $13,078,380 |
1993 | 43 | 1 | 16 | $21,762,671 |
1994 | 34 | 0 | 15 | $53,262,153 |
1995 | 22 | 0 | 7 | $8,269,519 |
1996 | 34 | 1 | 5 | $12,589,358 |
1997 | 26 | 1 | 5 | $11,068,642 |
1998 | 40 | 1 | 11 | $40,150,999 |
1999 | 34 | 2 | 8 | $19,370,527 |
2000 | 45 | 15 | 16 | $16,897,783 |
2001 | 45 | 2 | 5 | $12,977,700 |
2002 | 40 | 1 | 4 | $21,306,317 |
2003 | 61 | 1 | 8 | $52,523,788 |
2004 | 43 | 0 | 2 | $10,045,994 |
2005 | 63 | 0 | 5 | $133,927,001 |
2006 | 60 | 3 | 4 | $29,028,775 |
2007 | 55 | 2 | 7 | $39,477,042 |
2008 YTD | 36 | 0 | 3 | $103,564,812 |
Totals | 836 | 39 | 185 | $649,522,145 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 56 | 1 | 5 | $53,000,520 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 49 | 3 | 7 | $37,570,593 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 40 | 2 | 9 | $27,297,867 |
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 8 | 0 | 0 | $6,579,622 |
1989 | 11 | 18 | 13 | $10,469,573 |
1990 | 10 | 0 | 2 | $2,027,506 |
1991 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $308,546 |
1992 | 10 | 0 | 0 | $17,798,660 |
1993 | 7 | 0 | 0 | $6,962,159 |
1994 | 11 | 0 | 7 | $2,610,907 |
1995 | 10 | 2 | 0 | $3,563,389 |
1996 | 9 | 0 | 0 | $2,410,791 |
1997 | 7 | 0 | 0 | $1,840,202 |
1998 | 11 | 0 | 0 | $8,756,160 |
1999 | 4 | 0 | 0 | $957,110 |
2000 | 9 | 0 | 0 | $1,938,344 |
2001 | 5 | 0 | 0 | $1,650,477 |
2002 | 16 | 0 | 0 | $13,252,303 |
2003 | 8 | 0 | 0 | $3,708,574 |
2004 | 19 | 0 | 0 | $28,216,828 |
2005 | 46 | 0 | 0 | $103,133,082 |
2006 | 19 | 0 | 0 | $9,798,627 |
2007 | 21 | 0 | 0 | $14,430,088 |
2008 YTD | 10 | 0 | 0 | $17,390,758 |
Totals | 253 | 20 | 22 | $257,803,716 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 23 | 0 | 0 | $31,857,440 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 16 | 0 | 0 | $18,584,160 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 12 | 1 | 1 | $12,020,648 |
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 3 | 0 | 2 | $357,672 |
1989 | 4 | 0 | 0 | $2,521,064 |
1990 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $505,163 |
1991 | 4 | 0 | 1 | $761,211 |
1992 | 6 | 0 | 1 | $1,590,649 |
1993 | 1 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
1994 | 5 | 0 | 0 | $1,543,146 |
1995 | 3 | 0 | 3 | $152,662 |
1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
1997 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $515,256 |
1998 | 7 | 0 | 0 | $3,272,651 |
1999 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $387,973 |
2000 | 3 | 0 | 2 | $999,140 |
2001 | 6 | 0 | 0 | $11,204,402 |
2002 | 4 | 0 | 1 | $1,353,379 |
2003 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $2,004,378 |
2004 | 12 | 0 | 1 | $35,512,213 |
2005 | 18 | 0 | 2 | $154,202,256 |
2006 | 12 | 0 | 1 | $11,304,786 |
2007 | 10 | 0 | 0 | $5,512,694 |
2008 YTD | 8 | 0 | 0 | $45,592,794 |
Totals | 115 | 0 | 15 | $279,293,495 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 11 | 0 | 1 | $41,707,266 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 8 | 0 | 1 | $22,575,388 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 5 | 0 | 1 | $11,685,035 |
Year | Number | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage (A) (B) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 111 | 23 | 114 | $17,825,763 |
1989 | 97 | 20 | 91 | $11,758,501 |
1990 | 66 | 6 | 52 | $9,675,590 |
1991 | 80 | 14 | 77 | $9,438,913 |
1992 | 66 | 7 | 65 | $7,957,180 |
1993 | 88 | 16 | 84 | $19,140,963 |
1994 | 98 | 21 | 91 | $67,810,761 |
1995 | 68 | 16 | 43 | $12,691,191 |
1996 | 84 | 47 | 109 | $19,188,644 |
1997 | 69 | 9 | 67 | $13,987,075 |
1998 | 97 | 18 | 64 | $21,489,280 |
1999 | 88 | 16 | 80 | $29,849,714 |
2000 | 98 | 22 | 59 | $25,394,484 |
2001 | 69 | 5 | 46 | $14,001,510 |
2002 | 65 | 10 | 44 | $25,301,812 |
2003 | 104 | 11 | 58 | $23,059,405 |
2004 | 122 | 18 | 41 | $41,405,153 |
2005 | 104 | 14 | 39 | (E) $537,171,369 |
2006 | 72 | 16 | 26 | $19,862,069 |
2007 | 92 | 9 | 36 | $23,434,503 |
2008 YTD | 80 | 3 | 39 | $49,416,711 |
Totals | 1,818 | 321 | 1,325 | $999,860,602 |
5 Year Average (2003-2007) | 99 | 14 | 40 | $128,986,500 |
10 Year Average (1998-2007) | 91 | 14 | 49 | $76,096,930 |
20 Year Average (1988-2007) | 87 | 16 | 64 | $47,522,195 |
Notes
- Costs in the current year (2008) are nominal (as reported). The costs for incidents prior to 2008 are presented in 2007 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.
- 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 2007 dollars. Costs in current year (2008) are nominal.
- Net Barrels Lost applies only to Liquid incidents and is the difference between Gross Barrels Lost and Barrels Recovered.
- 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.
- Approximately 94% of the Property Damage for Gas Distribution Incidents in 2005 was caused by flooding in New Orleans. The $466.5 million associated with this incident represents lost gas and operator property damage, but does not include damage to public and private property caused by the flooding.
Sources
- Natural Gas Wellhead, City Gate, and Imports Prices 1949-2007. Release date: July 29, 2008.
- Gross Domestic Product (Chained) Price Index. Table 10.1 GDP & Deflators Used In the Historical Tables: 1940-2012 (FY2000=1.000). Index verified on Aug 15, 2008.
- PHMSA Hazardous Liquid Filtered Incidents File - October 14, 2008
- PHMSA Gas Transmission Filtered Incidents File - October 14, 2008
- PHMSA Gas Distribution Filtered Incidents File - October 14, 2008
See Pipeline Incidents and Mileage Reports for more pipeline safety reports.