Citizens concerned with pipeline safety lose trust when pipeline officials discussing transmission pipeline incidents continually say:
“By far the number one cause of incidents are third-party damage.”
2008 Reported Natural Gas Pipeline Excavation Incidents from Different Sources
• PHMSA – 154 nationally• Common Ground Alliance – 63,000 nationally• Texas Railroad Commission – 11,947 Texas only
Is excavation damage a bigger deal than PHMSA data portrays?
Lack of comprehensive, publicly available data calls into question every conclusion
stated about excavation damage and damage prevention program effectiveness
Common Ground AllianceEvents on Different Types of Gas Pipelines
2007 2008 2009
Distribution 49% 45% 51%Service/Drop 49% 53% 47%Transmission 2% 1% 2%Gathering 0% 0% 0%
Difficulties Getting Stronger Programs Without Adequate Data
• Everybody blames someone else
• Can’t convince decision makers there is a problem
• Can’t target limited money where it will be most effective
• Different types of underground utilities have different levels of interest/commitment
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