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oa Incident Analysis Of CO2 Pipeline Failures: Patterns, Detection, And Risks
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, World CCUS Conference 2025, Sep 2025, Volume 2025, p.1 - 5
Abstract
This study analyzes CO2 pipeline incidents in the US by integrating US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) incident data with pipeline infrastructure records. This enables a detailed analysis of failure patterns, detection system performance, and infrastructure-related risk factors. The dataset includes 121 incidents from 1994 to 2024, releasing 19,717 tons of CO2 and causing $6.96 million in damage, with no reported fatalities.
Leakage and damage costs are highest within the first decade of pipeline operation, averaging 0.445 tons CO2 per mile per year. Valves are the most involved equipment, while girth welds and pipe seams account for major material failures. Detection systems such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) frequently fail to identify incidents, with a 20.3% detection rate.
Pipelines built between 2000 and 2009 account for the majority of total CO2 released and reported damage costs.
Although the 2020 Satartia event resulted in the highest damage cost, three other incidents released larger CO2 volumes.
To place the findings in context, CO2 pipelines show significantly lower average leakage and damage cost rates than natural gas pipelines. The results inform risk mitigation strategies and are discussed in light of the newly proposed PHMSA safety guidelines for CO2 transport.
