Pipeline safety continued to improve, despite increases in pipeline milage and barrels delivered, according to a new report from American Petroleum Institute and the Liquids Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA).
The report explains the importance of maintaining a strong safety record in the pipeline industry, as pipelines remain critical to achieving the goals of energy security and energy dominance in an affordable, environmentally conscious way.
According to data from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the report found that total liquid pipeline incidents decreased 13 percent since 2020, despite the United States setting domestic oil production records in 2024. While the pipeline industry has constructed more than 3,000 additional pipeline miles and delivered greater than 15 percent more barrels of liquids between 2019 and 2023, safety has not been forfeited to increase production, an example of the industry’s commitment to striving towards zero incident operations.
As API-LEPA Pipeline Safety Excellence Steering Committee Chair and President of ExxonMobil Pipeline Company LLC Steven A. Yatauro said:
“Out of sight and out of mind, pipelines consistently deliver the energy our nation depends on with fewer incidents per barrel delivered every year. These products are at the root of a vital supply chain that both drives productivity, innovation and growth and provides a wide array of benefits to business and consumers.”
Consistent, Continuous Improvement in Safety
One key section of the report shows the progress the pipeline industry has achieved since 2020. As barrels delivered have increased over 15 percent, key incidents areas have all simultaneously decreased from 2020 to 2024, including the following:
- Pipeline incidents impacting people or the environment declined 13 percent
- Integrity management incidents were down 33 percent
- Incidents related to maintenance or operations have decreased 22 percent
Looking more closely at the connection between barrels delivered and incidents, the report also provides specific statistics on incidents per million barrels delivered, both in total, and those impacting people or the environment. Notably, as barrels delivered has increased, incidents have continued to decrease. Specifically, total incidents per barrel delivered fell 33 percent from 2019 to 2023.
Pipelines Bring Benefits for American Communities
Outside of facilitating the delivery of affordable, reliable energy to all 50 states, the pipeline industry plays a beneficial role to local communities.
In the report, community members outlined how “pipelines traveling through communities provide a steady source of tax revenue for local services.” To put the impact in numbers, a 2023 API report shows the industry supports nearly 11 million jobs and contributes nearly $1.8 trillion to the U.S. economy, driving economic growth across the country. Sarah, a resident of Pennsylvania featured in the report, believes that without the oil and gas industry, thousands of workers like her may not have stayed in the state for such a long period of time:
“From pipeline operators and truck drivers to contractors and manufacturers, America’s oil and natural gas industry supports a wide range of jobs across the state, with research showing that every direct job in the industry generates 3.6 additional jobs in Pennsylvania.”
As Americans continue to face cost increases for basic necessities, pipelines enable the oil and natural gas industry to provide affordable, efficient energy to families in a safe manner. Furthermore, testimonies in API-LEPA’s recent report show the industry also supports community organizations, school systems, first responders, and more across the United States.
Bottom line: The API-LEPA report further affirms the pipeline industry’s commitment to delivering energy safely, while simultaneously meeting the energy demands of Americans.
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