New industry report touts enhanced pipeline safety and performance

WASHINGTON, January 15, 2014 ─ Pipelines are extremely safe and efficient for transporting energy across the United States, the industry’s continual efforts to improve the safety of the nation’s network of crude and petroleum product pipelines have reduced pipeline incidents by 62 percent from 2001-2012, according to a new report by API and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines.

“Statistically, pipelines have an almost 100 percent safety record and reaching a perfect record of safety is our industry’s goal,” said API Pipeline Director Peter Lidiak. “Key to that effort is to prevent accidents by improving inspection technology and management practices and oversight. In that regard the industry has implemented best practices that have lowered corrosion-caused spills by almost 80 percent, since 2012.”

In 2012, more than 14 billion barrels of crude oil and petroleum products were transported by almost 186,000 miles of liquids pipelines, which delivered the energy America needs to power homes, businesses and commerce. The industry also invested $1.6 billion in infrastructure safety and inspected more than 35,000 miles of pipeline with “smart-pig” in-line technology, according to the Annual Liquid Pipeline Safety Performance Report & Strategic Plan.

“Pipelines are a vital part of this nation’s infrastructure and will be critical to creating jobs, growing our nation’s economy and securing our bright energy future,” said Lidiak.

API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 580 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 20 million Americans. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $85 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.