Annual Report Demonstrates Voluntary Industry Progress

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2022 – The American Petroleum Institute (API) and seven other pipeline and contractor trade organizations today released the Pipeline Safety Management Systems (SMS) 2021 Annual Report, which found that 85% of total industry pipeline mileage participated in voluntary Pipeline SMS implementation. Industry initiatives like Pipeline SMS help the pipeline industry from liquid operators to gas distribution, transmission and gathering operators to pipeline contractors create a safety culture and work to advance a zero-incident future.

“This past year, we continued to expand the dialogue with stakeholders and provided support for all operators on this journey,” said outgoing Pipeline SMS Industry Team Chair and Black Hills Energy Vice President of Natural Gas System Safety John Hill. “We continue to see the convergence of personal and pipeline safety and overall improvement in safety culture – the best predictor of safety outcomes.”

“Over the past five years, the liquids pipeline industry has witnessed the impact of SMS implementation, driving reductions in both total incidents and incidents impacting people and the environment,” said incoming Pipeline SMS Industry Team Chair and Enbridge Director of Safety and Reliability Governance Cindy Graham. “But there is more work to be done. The Industry Team will help operators who have not yet implemented SMS, as well as those who want to advance their SMS maturity. Working together, we are focused on improving industry’s pipeline safety performance through universal SMS implementation.”

After the publication of API Recommended Practice (RP) 1173, Pipeline Safety Management Systems, in 2015, the pipeline industry began efforts to promote the commitment to and implementation of RP 1173. The Pipeline SMS Industry Team supports industry’s pipeline SMS implementation journey and fosters good practice sharing by outlining implementation tools, program elements and training materials for operators and contractors throughout the year. Despite 2021 continuing to be a difficult year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 85% of total pipeline mileage has adopted Pipeline SMS in 2021 and the Industry Team held numerous conferences, workshops and events to facilitate implementation.

Pipeline SMS is led by API, Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL), American Gas Association (AGA), American Public Gas Association (APGA), GPA Midstream Association, American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA), Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, and Distribution Contractors Association (DCA).

Click here to view a copy of the report.