Editing Pipeline (section)

==Accidents and dangers==
Pipelines can help ensure a country's economic well-being and as such present a likely target of terrorists or wartime adversaries.
Fossil fuels can be transported by pipeline, rail, truck or ship, though natural gas requires compression or [[liquefaction]] to make vehicle transport economical. For transport of crude oil via these four modes, various reports rank pipelines as proportionately causing less human death and property damage than rail and truck and [[Oil spill|spilling less oil]] than truck.<ref name="forbes"/>

===Accidents===
{{Main list|List of pipeline accidents}}

Pipelines conveying flammable or explosive material, such as natural gas or oil, pose special safety concerns. While corrosion, pressure, and equipment failure are common causes, excavation damage is also a leading accident type that can be avoided by calling 811 before digging near pipelines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brigham McCown on Oil Pipeline Safety and Energy Infrastructure |publisher=C-SPAN |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?460026-3/washington-journal-brigham-mccown-discusses-oil-pipeline-safety-energy-infrastructure |access-date=2022-07-09}}</ref> 
*1965 – A 32-inch gas transmission pipeline, north of Natchitoches, Louisiana, belonging to the Tennessee Gas Pipeline exploded and burned from [[stress corrosion cracking]] failure on March 4, killing 17 people. At least 9 others were injured, and 7 homes 450 feet from the rupture were destroyed. This accident, and others of the era, led then-President Lyndon B. Johnson to call for the formation of a national pipeline safety agency in 1967. The same pipeline had also had an explosion on May 9, 1955, just 930 feet (280 m) from the 1965 failure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gendisasters.com/louisiana/53/natchitoches-la-gas-pipeline-explosion-mar-1965|title=Natchitoches, LA Gas Pipeline Explosion, Mar 1965|access-date=30 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104655/http://www3.gendisasters.com/louisiana/53/natchitoches-la-gas-pipeline-explosion-mar-1965|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jiJLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6968,2455002&dq=gas+line+blast&hl=en|title= Google News Archive Search|publisher=The Press-Courier|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref>
*June 16, 1976 – A gasoline pipeline was ruptured by a road construction crew in [[Los Angeles]], California. Gasoline sprayed across the area, and soon ignited, killing 9, and injuring at least 14 others. Confusion over the depth of the pipeline in the construction area seemed to be a factor in the accident.<ref>{{cite letter |recipient=Mr. C. D. Mims |subject=Safety Recommendations P-76-87 through 90|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/recletters/1976/P76_87_90.pdf|last=Webster B. Todd Jr.|date=31 January 1977|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|location=Washington, DC|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031053108/https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/recletters/1976/P76_87_90.pdf|archive-date=31 October 2012}}</ref>
*June 4, 1989 – The [[Ufa train disaster]]: Sparks from two passing trains detonated gas leaking from a [[liquefied petroleum gas|LPG]] pipeline near [[Ufa]], Russia. At least 575 people were reported killed.
*October 17, 1998 – [[1998 Jesse pipeline explosion]]: A [[petroleum]] pipeline exploded at Jesse on the [[Oil Rivers|Niger Delta]] in [[Nigeria]], killing about 1,200 villagers, some of whom were scavenging [[gasoline]].
*June 10, 1999 – A pipeline rupture in a [[Bellingham, Washington]] park led to the release of 277,200 gallons of gasoline. The gasoline was ignited, causing an explosion that killed two children and one adult. Misoperation of the pipeline and a previously damaged section of the pipe that was not detected before were identified as causing the failure.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2002/PAR0202.pdf|title=Pipeline Accident Report: Pipeline Rupture and Subsequent Fire in Bellingham, Washington, June 10, 1999|date=2002|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|location=Washington, DC|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031053056/https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2002/PAR0202.pdf|archive-date=31 October 2012}}</ref>
*August 19, 2000 – A natural gas pipeline rupture and fire near [[Carlsbad, New Mexico]]; this explosion and fire killed 12 members of an extended family. The cause was due to severe internal corrosion of the pipeline.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2003/PAR0301.pdf|title=Pipeline Accident Report: Natural Gas Pipeline Rupture and Fire Near Carlsbad, New Mexico, August 19, 2000|date=2003|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101102741/https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2003/PAR0301.pdf|archive-date=1 November 2013}}</ref>
*July 30, 2004 – A major [[natural gas]] pipeline exploded in [[Ghislenghien]], Belgium near [[Ath]] (thirty kilometres southwest of [[Brussels]]), killing at least 24 people and leaving 132 wounded, some critically.
*May 12, 2006 – An oil pipeline ruptured outside [[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]]. Up to 200 people may have been killed. See [[Nigeria oil blast]].
*November 1, 2007 – A propane pipeline exploded near Carmichael, Mississippi, about {{convert|30|mi|km}} south of [[Meridian, Mississippi]]. Two people were killed instantly and an additional four were injured. Several homes were destroyed and sixty families were displaced. The pipeline is owned by Enterprise Products Partners LP, and runs from [[Mont Belvieu, Texas]], to [[Apex, North Carolina]]. Inability to find flaws in pre-1971 ERW seam welded pipe flaws was a contributing factor to the accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/10946761.html|title=Clarke County Explosion Kills Two, Destroys Homes|access-date=30 September 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130925/http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/10946761.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2009/PAR0901.pdf|title=Pipeline Accident Report: Rupture of Hazardous Liquid Pipeline With Release and Ignition of Propane, Carmichael, Mississippi, November 1, 2007|date=2009|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|location=Washington, DC|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028062315/https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2009/PAR0901.pdf|archive-date=28 October 2013}}</ref>
*September 9, 2010 – [[2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion]]: A 30-inch diameter high pressure natural gas pipeline owned by the [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]] exploded in the Crestmoor residential neighborhood 2&nbsp;mi (3.2&nbsp;km) west of San Francisco International Airport, killing 8, injuring 58, and destroying 38 homes. Poor quality control of the pipe used & of the construction were cited as factors in the accident.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2011/PAR1101.pdf|title=Pipeline Accident Report: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Rupture and Fire, San Bruno, California, September 9, 2010|date=2011|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|location=Washington, DC|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611133921/https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2011/PAR1101.pdf|archive-date=11 June 2014}}</ref>
*June 27, 2014 – An explosion occurred after a natural gas pipe line ruptured in Nagaram village, East Godavari district, [[Andhra Pradesh]], India causing 16 deaths and destroying "scores of homes".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/14-killed-in-blast-at-gail-pipeline-in-andhra-pradesh/article1-1234108.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627181851/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/14-killed-in-blast-at-gail-pipeline-in-andhra-pradesh/article1-1234108.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2014|title= Breaking News, India, World, Bollywood, Sports, Business, Technology|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref>
*July 31, 2014 – On the night of July 31, [[2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions|a series of explosions]] originating in underground gas pipelines occurred in the city of [[Kaohsiung]], [[Taiwan]]. Leaking gas filled the sewers along several major thoroughfares and the resulting explosions turned several kilometers of road surface into deep trenches, sending vehicles and debris high into the air and igniting fires over a large area. At least 32 people were killed and 321 injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/taiwan-explosions-probe-focuses-petrochem-firm-084259627.html|title=Taiwan explosions probe focuses on petrochem firm|date=2 August 2014|work=Yahoo News|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setnews.net/News.aspx?PageGroupID=1&NewsID=33335&PageType=1|title=高雄驚傳嚴重氣爆意外 死傷人數攀升至28人、286傷|date=2014|website=[[SET News]]|language=zh|trans-title=Casualties climb to 28 people in Kaohsiung gas explosion, 286 injured|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref>

===As targets===
Pipelines can be the target of [[vandalism]], [[sabotage]], or even [[terrorist attack]]s. For example, between early 2011 and July 2012, a natural gas pipeline connecting Egypt to Israel and Jordan was attacked 15 times.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.africandefence.net/terrorist-threats-to-energy-infrastructure-in-north-africa/|title=Terrorist threats to energy infrastructure in North Africa|work=African Defence |author=Consultancy Africa Intelligence|access-date=December 11, 2018|date=2014-06-26}}</ref> In 2019, [[Tlahuelilpan pipeline explosion|a fuel pipeline north of Mexico City exploded]] after fuel thieves tapped into the line. At least sixty-six people were reported to have been killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/world/americas/hidalgo-explosion-mexico-pipeline.html|title=Mexico Explosion Kills 66 After Thieves Rupture Pipeline|work=The New York Times |first1=Paulina|last1=Villegas|first2=Kirk|last2=Semple|date=January 19, 2019|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> In war, pipelines are often the target of military attacks, as destruction of pipelines can seriously disrupt enemy [[logistics]]. On 26 September 2022, a [[2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage|series of explosions and subsequent major gas leaks]] occurred on the [[Nord Stream 1]] and [[Nord Stream 2]] pipelines that run to Europe from Russia under the Baltic Sea. The leaks are believed to have been caused by an act of sabotage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Sweden and Denmark say Nord Stream pipeline blasts were deliberate attacks |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/gas-leak-detected-near-nord-stream-2/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-27 |title=CIA warned Berlin about possible attacks on gas pipelines in summer – Spiegel |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/cia-warned-berlin-about-possible-attacks-gas-pipelines-summer-spiegel-2022-09-27/ |access-date=2022-10-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Plucinska |first=Joanna |date=2022-10-06 |title=Nord Stream gas 'sabotage': who's being blamed and why? |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/qa-nord-stream-gas-sabotage-whos-being-blamed-why-2022-09-30/ |access-date=2022-10-13}}</ref>