Safety record
Annual Performance Report
For more information on industry safety, read the API-LEPA Annual Pipeline Safety Excellence Performance Report.
Infographic
Two-Pager
Key Performance Indicators
Pipelines are the safest way to transport liquid energy with 99.999% of barrels delivered by pipeline arriving at their destinations safely. However, no form of transportation is perfect and pipeline incidents can and do happen.
Tracking how, where and why pipeline incidents occur helps pipeline operators and government regulators see how safely pipelines are operating and the reasons behind pipeline incidents when they occur. Pipeline operators use this data to design safety improvement programs. Particularly useful measures of pipeline safety examine incident size, location, commodity and cause.
The liquids pipeline industry also tracks a core set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as a sign of overall pipeline safety performance. These KPIs are based primarily on incidents impacting the people or the environment (IPE). They were created through a collaborative effort between PHMSA, public safety advocates represented by the Pipeline Safety Trust and the liquids pipeline industry. They reflect the highest priority we place on protecting people and the environment.
Incidents Impacting People or the Environment
Pipeline incidents impacting people or the environment decreased 7 percent from 2019 to 2023. Total pipeline incidents were down, as well, dropping 23 percent over the last five years, with 87 fewer incidents in 2023 compared to 2019.
Integrity Management Incidents Impacting People or the Environment
Incidents related to the pipeline itself, such as corrosion, cracking or weld failure, were up 17 percent over the last five years in areas impacting people or the environment. Corrosion failures impacting people or the environment were up 12 percent.
Operations & Maintenance Incidents Impacting People or the Environment
Incidents related to maintaining pipeline equipment or operating the pipeline and its valves or pumps were down 54 percent over the last five years in areas impacting people or the environment. In these areas, incidents caused by incorrect operation decreased by 45 percent, while equipment failure decreased 50 percent from 2019 to 2023.
Incidents by Cause
Equipment failures is the most frequent cause of all liquids pipeline incidents. Over the last five years, equipment failures represented 46 percent of incidents, corrosion failures 23 percent and incorrect operation 15 percent. Material pipe/weld failures, which include cracking, a primary source of large volume releases, represented only 6 percent of incidents since 2019.
Incidents by Commodity
In In 2023, there were 46 crude oil incidents (65 percent) and 25 refined products incidents (35 percent) impacting people or the environment.
Incidents by Location
Liquids pipeline incidents occurring in high consequence areas (HCAs) declined 35 percent over the last five years. Through federal regulation, PHMSA defines HCAs as areas of population concentration, commercially navigable waterways or sensitive environmental locations. HCA data differs from incidents impacting people or the environment because, under PHMSA regulation, an incident can have no impact on people or the environment, remain wholly within an operator’s facility and still count as an HCA if that facility is surrounded by an HCA.
Incidents by Size
Most pipeline incidents are small. In 2023, 61 percent of incidents were less than five barrels and 84 percent were less than 50 barrels. Large pipeline incidents are also the rarest. In 2023, only 5 percent of incidents were 500 barrels or larger, and these large incidents are down 11 percent over the last five years.
