Rate of Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Ruptures Due to External Corrosion in the USA

It was my memory that it had been decades since a natural gas pipeline had ruptured due to external corrosion.  To verify I reviewed a listing of pipeline failures in the USA and found what appears to have been the last documented pipeline corrosion related rupture.

• 1985 A 30 inch diameter gas pipeline operating at about 960 psi, weakened by atmospheric corrosion, ruptured, and tore out about 29 feet (8.8 m) of the carrier pipe, blew apart about 16 feet (4.9 m) of a 36-inch-diameter casing pipe, blasted an opening across Kentucky State Highway 90, and cut out a pear-shaped crater approximately 90 feet (27 m) long, 38 feet (12 m) wide, and 12 feet (3.7 m) deep near Beaumont, Kentucky. 5 people were killed in one home, and 3 injured. The fireball from the incident could be seen 20 miles away.(April 27, 1985)

 

• 1986 A 30 inch gas pipeline ruptured due to corrosion near Lancaster, Kentucky. 3 people had serious burns, and 5 others had lesser injuries. External corrosion made worse by difficulties of Cathodic protection in rocky soil was the cause. (February 21, 1986)

 

It has been over 26 years since a natural gas transmission pipeline has had a rupture due to external corrosion.  The most recent external corrosion ruptures were both in Kentucky.  The Beaumont Kentucky rupture was due to atmospheric corrosion inside a road casing under Kentucky State Highway 90 and the Lancaster Kentucy failure was on buried pipe that was insufficiently protected by cathodic protection.  Cathodic protection cannot prevent atmospheric corrosion inside a road casing.