In recent years, with the development and utilization of oil and gas resources in permafrost areas, pipeline transportation in permafrost areas is also getting more and more attention. Due to the particularity of the geology and environment in the permafrost area, it has a serious adverse effect on the pipeline operation. Therefore, it is very important to analyze the oil and gas pipeline accidents in permafrost areas. In this paper, the data statistics and analysis of the oil and gas pipeline accidents in the United States and Canada in recent years have been carried out and the comparison for the difference and connection of pipeline accidents in permafrost and non-permafrost areas has been performed. According to related literature, the causes for pipeline accident in the permafrost areas are divided into the following reasons: thawing settlement, frost, ice block, dew tube, earthquake, slump, flooding. This provides a reference to accident analysis, emergency processing and risk management of oil and gas pipeline in permafrost areas and scientific basis to the design, construction of pipeline and damage prevention in permafrost areas.