The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), a group that represents transmission pipeline companies in Canada, has released its first pipeline industry performance report.
According to the report, there were 122 oil and natural gas spills and releases in 2014. Four of these spills were categorized as ‘significant’ - two liquid spills and two natural gas spills.
According to CEPA, metal loss or deterioration – including things such as cracking, corrosion and material defects - caused 79 per cent of pipeline incidents between 2010 and 2014.
“We know that we need to build public confidence and trust in our industry and we think this report will play a big part in that,” said CEPA President and CEO Brenda Kenny.
The report comes after one of biggest oil spills in Alberta history. In July 2015, Chinese-owned Nexen Energy ULC discovered a pipeline rupture at its Long Lake oil-sands project, about 36 km south of Fort McMurray. The spill released five million litres of bitumen emulsion - a mixture of bitumen, water and sand – onto the pipeline’s right of way, covering an area of about 16,000 square metres.
In a press release, CEPA states the new report is important because despite “a 99.999 per cent safe delivery record,” the industry is acutely aware of the risks associated with its operations.
The report also highlights:
- $2.9 billion invested in maintaining and monitoring member pipeline systems over two years - 2013 and 2014;
- 45,306 km of pipeline inspected in 2014 using sophisticated in-line inspection devices;
- 335 emergency response exercises held in 2014;
- 25 per cent decrease in rate of injuries to our employees over past five years.
The oil and gas companies represented by CEPA operate about 117,000 km of pipeline in Canada. These pipelines moved approximately 1.2 billion barrels of liquid petroleum products and 5.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in 2014.