Safety record

Annual Performance Report

For more information on industry safety, read the API-LEPA Annual Pipeline Safety Excellence Performance Report.

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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 13% from 2020 to 2024. Total pipeline incidents dropped 13 %, as well, over the last five years, with 42 fewer incidents in 2024 compared to 2020. A full description of the specific types of incidents impacting people or the environment can be found on page 60.

Integrity Management Incidents Impacting People or the Environment

Incidents related to the pipeline itself, such as corrosion, cracking or weld failure, were down 33% over the last five years in areas impacting people or the environment. Corrosion failures were down 13% and material failure of the pipe or weld were down 60% since 2020.

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 22% over the last five years in areas impacting people or the environment. In these areas, incidents caused by excavation damage due to insufficient locating practices dropped 50% and incidents caused by equipment failure decreased 29%, while incidents caused by incorrect operation stayed flat from 2020 to 2024.

Incidents by Cause

Equipment failure is the most frequent cause of all liquids pipeline incidents. Over the last five years, equipment failure represented 45% of
incidents, corrosion failure 25% and incorrect operation 12%. Material pipe/weld failures, which include cracking, a primary source of large volume releases, represented only 6% of incidents since 2020. Excavation incidents represented 2% of total liquids pipeline incidents between 2020 and 2024.

Incidents by Commodity

In 2024, there were 39 crude oil incidents, representing 66%, and 20 refined products incidents, representing 34%, impacting people or the environment.

Incidents by Location

Liquids pipeline incidents occurring in high consequence areas (HCAs) declined 14% 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 2024, 66% of incidents were less than five barrels and 85% were less than 50 barrels. Large pipeline incidents are also the rarest. In 2024, only 4% of incidents were 500 barrels or larger, and these large incidents are down 7% over the last five years.