Performance of European cross-country oil pipelines – Statistical summary of reported spillages in 2022 and since 1971
Report Nº 7/24: Concawe has collected 52 years of spillage data on European cross-country oil pipelines. At over 35,000 km the current inventory covered by the Concawe survey includes the majority of such pipelines in Europe, transporting some 640 million m3 per year of crude oil and oil products. This report covers the performance of these pipelines in 2022 and a full historical perspective since 1971. The performance over the whole 52 years is analysed in various ways, including gross and net spillage volumes, and spillage causes grouped into five main categories: mechanical failure, operational, corrosion, natural hazard and third party. The rate of use of in-line inspection tools is also reported.
A total of five spillages were reported for 2022, one of which was theft-related. The other four incidents correspond to 0.12 spillages per 1000 km of line, similar to the 5-year average and well below the long-term running average of 0.42 spillages per 1000 km per year, which has been steadily decreasing over the years from a value of 1.1 in the mid-70s. Two incidents were due to mechanical failure and one to external corrosion. The circumstances of the fourth incident could not be disclosed at this stage for legal reasons. There were no fires, fatalities or injuries connected with these spills.