Ear to the Ground - Spring 2015 - (Page 13)
FEATURE
B Y A N N N E W M A N , C E T S R WA , S U P E R V I S O R , R I G H T- O F-WAY S E R V I C E S ,
E A S T E R N R E G I O N O P E R AT I O N S , E N B R I D G E P I P E L I N E S I N C .
High Pressure
Transmission
Pipeline Safety
T
here is a small group in Ontario known as the "Joint
Pipeline Group" representing the larger high pressure
transmission pipelines operating across Ontario. The
group was formed long before the ORCGA came into existence to promote pipeline safety and educate the public on the
practices for safe excavation around these larger pipelines.
Pipeline operators participating in this group include Enbridge
Pipelines Inc., Imperial Oil Ltd, Plains Midstream Canada, Sun
Canadian Pipeline Ltd., TransCanada Pipeline Ltd and Trans
Northern Pipelines Inc.
Pipelines that cross provincial or federal boundaries are
regulated by the National Energy Board (NEB). The pipelines
that operate strictly in Ontario are regulated by the Technical
Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).
These pipelines will not be found running along the side
of the road or servicing homes. These are LARGE pipelines
transporting petroleum products, crude oil and natural gas
from the source such as oil fields in Alberta or refineries in
Sarnia, to the customer, such as other refineries and distribution terminals in eastern Canada. The pipelines run in
designated pipeline easements crossing private lands.
The NEB-regulated pipelines also have a designated 30m
safety zone on each side of the easement. The 30m safety
zone was established as a safety buffer to ensure the pipeline
company is notified prior to excavation in close proximity to
the pipeline. Under the NEB regulations "No person shall construct a facility across, on, along or under a pipeline or excavate using power-operated equipment or explosives within
thirty meters of a pipeline" without first obtaining leave (permission) from the pipeline company. In addition, "No person
shall operate a vehicle or mobile equipment across a pipeline
outside a travelled road allowance" without obtaining leave
from the pipeline company. Permission is typically granted
in the form of a "Crossing Agreement."
The pipeline company must be notified prior to excavating within 30m of the pipeline right-of-way and a pipeline
inspector must be present when excavating within 3m of the
pipeline. The purpose of the inspector onsite is to ensure
the excavator understands the precautions to follow when
excavating near pipelines and to ensure the regulations are
SPRING 15
complied with. If a pipeline inspector observes activity that
will put the pipeline at risk the inspector has the authority
to stop the work.
All oil and gas pipelines are designed and constructed in
compliance with CSA Standard Z662-11. Operating pressures
range from approximately 200 psi to 1200 psi and regulations
require a minimum depth of 0.6m in open fields and 1.3m
when crossing under a travelled road or water way. The depth
can change for various reasons and the pipeline may change
direction in the middle of an open field. Always contact the
pipeline company to confirm the location of the pipeline prior
to any work within 30m of the pipeline. Contact information for
the pipeline company can be found on pipeline signs located
at road, water and rail crossings and other locations along the
13
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ear to the Ground - Spring 2015
President's Message
2015 Dig Safe Symposium Awards
Damage Prevention and Innovation
High Pressure Transmission Pipeline Safety
Delivery of Locates in Ontario
ORCGA's Damage Prevention Technician, DPT Program
Ice Storm 2013: We Have the Power to Survive
Our Industry is Constantly Changing
Index of Advertisers
Ear to the Ground - Spring 2015
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/RGCB0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/RGCB0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/RGCB0209
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