The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released its annual 2023 Performance Report in coordination with the Liquid Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA), outlining the pipeline industry’s continuing record of safety performance and commitment to tackling evolving challenges – including improving pipeline community engagement, promoting workforce excellence and advancing a sustainable energy future.
Even as pipeline mileage and barrels delivered have increased, the report finds that pipeline safety has increased across several key indicators over the past five years. The report also includes key activities and updates on the 2023-2025 Pipeline Excellence Strategic Plan identified by API and LEPA.
‘With a goal of zero operating incidents, pipeline operators are devoted to continuous improvement,’ API-LEPA Pipeline Safety Excellence Steering Committee Chair and President of ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, LLC, Steven Yatauro says. ‘One area of focus has been pipeline operators’ commitment to improving meaningful public and community engagement resulting in the development of a first-of-its-kind industry recommended practice for pipeline public engagement.’
‘Enhancing public engagement is crucial for maintaining current pipeline safety and expanding energy infrastructure. As our industry advances emissions reduction efforts – including the development of hydrogen and carbon capture – the safety of our nation’s pipelines remains at the center of our commitment to ensuring safe, responsible operations,’ adds API Vice President of Midstream Policy Robin Rorick.
The 2023 report shows that in the past five years, liquids pipeline safety has increased across several key performance indicators identified by federal and state regulators, industry operators and public safety advocates. Comprehensive safety management systems and robust safety programs, including advanced inspection and leak detection technologies, help operators safely deliver energy to Americans every day. Based on data tracked and maintained by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) from 2019 to 2023:
- Total pipeline incidents decreased 23% over the past five years, with 87 fewer incidents in 2023 compared to 2019, and liquids pipeline incidents impacting people or the environment decreased seven percent.
- Operations and maintenance incidents impacting people or the environment declined 54 percent between 2019 and 2023.
- Total equipment failure incidents impacting people or the environment decreased 50 percent between 2019 and 2023.
The safe and responsible build-out of pipelines will be critical to transporting low-carbon solutions like carbon capture, hydrogen and cleaner fuels like renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. As the industry looks to create a sustainable energy future, pipeline operators are committed to increasing stakeholder awareness and engagement.
To that end, operators are beginning the implementation of the recently published API Recommended Practice (RP) 1185, Pipeline Public Engagement, which provides guidelines and best practices for pipeline companies to build upon existing programs, or establish and implement new stakeholder engagement processes to ensure all stakeholders – including local officials, tribal representatives, community leaders, landowners and pipeline operators – can engage in meaningful dialogue throughout the life of a pipeline.
