ABSTRACT
Pipeline integrity does not only concern how to keep the contents inside the pipeline but also the means to prevent them from escaping. The causes of the loss of containment, which is more commonly described as leaks, have been classified historically into three main areas (other causes of incidents rarely affect the integrity of the pipeline). These are in order of magnitude for the United States/Europe:
Third-party damage (35–40%)
Corrosion (20%)
Material and construction defects (15–20%)
Others (20%)
