RESEARCH MAIN

Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (Canada)

Pipeline Act (2000) - http://www.eub.gov.ab.ca/bbs/requirements/actsregs/pl_act.pdf

Because Alberta includes most of Canada's oil production areas, its law regulating intraprovincial oil and natural gas pipelines is the most comprehensive in that nation.

Pipeline Regulation (1999) - http://www.eub.gov.ab.ca/bbs/requirements/actsregs/pl_reg_122_87_pipeline.pdf

These regulations implement the Pipeline Act. Readers will note that Alberta's are more detailed than OPS pipeline safety regulations in such areas as inspection and leak detection requirements and marking and protection of rights-of-way from excavation damage.

Pipeline and Surface Rights: A Guide for Landowners and Occupants (2000) - http://www.eub.gov.ab.ca/bbs/products/guides/g17-3-2000.pdf

This brochure outlines the rights of landowners when pipeline companies seek to route new intraprovincial pipelines on their land.

Pipeline Performance in Alberta 1980-1997 (1998) ‚ http://www.eub.gov.ab.ca/bbs/documents/reports/r98g.pdf

This report provides a good overview of the characteristics of Alberta's nearly 246,800-mile oil and natural gas pipeline system, as well as its spill and leak record of 7,564 "operating failures" in those years. It shows that the rate of failures was steady from 1980 to 1997, and that natural gas pipelines had an annual failure rate of 1.1 per 1000 km (620 miles) and crude oil pipelines had an annual failure rate of 1.2 per 1000 km. It also showed that both internal and external corrosion was the greatest cause of failures, by far, not outside damage. More important, however, it shows a far superior database and analysis effort than OPS has ever achieved.

Amoco Pipeline Failure, June 5, 1990 (1990) - 00089

This report examined a 609,000-gallon crude oil spill in central Alberta that was caused by stress corrosion cracking, in which hairline longitudinal cracks cluster and grow, and finally merge and rupture. The leak detection system provided data only weekly, which allowed the leak to continue for as many as nine days before it was discovered and the line shut down.

University of Bradford (UK), Lifetime Management of transit Oil and Gas Pipelines in CCE/NIS Countries and Collected Failure Statistics and Case Studies (1998) - http://www.met.uni-miskolc.hu/limatog/infodb/english/ and http://www.met.uni-miskolc.hu/limatog/infodb/english/CS/

This is a proposal and background information for a study of accidents and prevention primarily in Hungary, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia in an effort to improve pipeline safety in Central and Eastern Europe. The case studies and failure statistics show that corrosion and other defects, especially on older pipelines.

Urhobo Historical Society (Nigeria), Reports on Oil and Natural Gas Pipeline Problems in the Niger Delta (2002) - http://www.waado.org/Environment/EnvironmentPage.html

The numerous articles, reports, photographs and other documents on this web site provide rich details about the careless operation of oil and gas exploration companies in Nigeria and the many pipeline spills and explosions, as well as the serious problem of vandalism.

British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission (Canada)

Pipeline Regulation (2000) - http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/P/Pipeline/360_98.htm

Although not as large an oil-producing province as Alberta, British Columbia is a major oil producer and regulates pipeline safety.

Spill Reporting Regulation (1993) - http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/W/WasteMgmt/263_90.htm

This regulation requires reporting any leak or spill of 26.3 gallons (100 liters) or more ‚ compared to the OPS requirement until recently for reporting only spills of 2,100 gallons or more.

Canadian Alliance of Pipeline Landowners Associations, CAPLA Information (undated) - http://www.pipeline-landowners.com/capla.htm

An organization of landowners in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, CAPLA provides here useful information about pipeline regulatory issues, such as pipeline abandonment, accident prevention and indemnification, as well as its successes in dealing with pipeline operators and regulatory agencies.

CONCAWE (European Oil Industry Organization)

Western European Cross-Country Oil Pipelines 30-year Performance Statistics (2002) - http://www.concawe.be/Download/Reports/Rpt_02-1.pdf

Published by the European equivalent of our API, this 52-page report describes the declining number and severity of pipeline accidents in Europe. However, it expresses concern that 42 percent of the continent's pipeline system was 35 years or older in 2000, and that further monitoring is necessary.

Performance of Cross-Country Oil Pipelines in Western Europe: Statistical Summary of Reported Spillages ‚ 2000 (2001) - http://www.concawe.be/Download/Reports/Rpt_01-4.pdf

This annual report describes the significant oil pipeline accidents of 2000 in Europe.

Performance of Cross-Country Oil Pipelines in Western Europe: Statistical Summary of Reported Spillages ‚ 1999 (2000) http://www.concawe.be/Download/Reports/Rpt_00-3.pdf

This annual report describes the significant oil pipeline accidents of 1999 in Europe.

 

Health and Safety Executive (United Kingdom)

Technical Measures Document: Emergency Response/Spill Response (2002) - http://www.hse.gov.uk/hid/land/comah/level3/5C98BB0.HTM

This six-page British government document outlines response measure for all hazardous installations, including pipelines, with links to specialized guidance documents, case studies, and further reading.

Mill Woods Canada Pipeline Failure, March 1976 (2001) - http://www.hse.gov.uk/hid/land/comah/level3/5C9A2DE.HTM

This one-page brief of a propane pipeline leak describes how the heavier-than-air liquid and vapor flowed alone ditches and into a town's sewer system, forcing the evacuation of 19,000 people.

International Pipeline Accidents (2000) - http://www.elaw.org/resources/text.asp?ID=923

This technical study examined the fire and heat characteristics (such as the shape and dimensions of burn areas) of numerous natural gas pipeline explosions, as determined from accident reports from four nations, to aid in the UK's pipeline risk assessment program. Most interesting is an appendix summarizing the cause and effects of the 18 accidents studied in detail.

Major Industrial Accidents Council of Canada, Land Use Planning with Respect to Pipelines: A Guideline for Local Authorities, Developers, and Pipeline Operators (1998) - http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:AUgw3g1D-48C:www.mece.ualberta.ca/staff/whittaker/PipelineTask.pdf
+miacc+pipeline+task+force&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

This report recommends that property owners and pipeline operators work together when any new activity is planned within 200 meters of an oil or natural gas pipeline. Local governments should require consultation in such areas as site plan reviews and setback requirements.

 

National Energy Board (Canada)

Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations (2003) - http://www.neb.gc.ca/safety/damgprev/index_e.htm

This web page provides links to the full text of Canada's federal damage prevention regulations, as well as a newsletter and rulemaking and related documents.

Pipeline Safety Advisories (2003) - http://www.neb.gc.ca/safety/safetyadvisories/index_e.htm

 This web page provides links to safety advisories of both the National Energy Board and the Transportation Safety Board, Canada's equivalent of the U.S. NTSB.

Living and Working Near Pipelines: Landowner Guide (2002) - http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/safety/livwork_e.pdf

This safety brochure explains the need to call before digging on or near pipeline rights-of-way, including the requirement that excavators obtain approval from the pipeline company before beginning anything within 100 feet of its pipeline.

The Future of a Natural Gas Pipeline Regulation in Canada (2000) - http://www.igua.ca/ppt/Jean-PaulTheoret%20(Text).doc

This speech by a board member at a gas industry conference notes that the growth of the pipeline industry in Canada will lead to more competition.

Onshore Pipeline Regulations (1999) - http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/N-7/SOR-99-294/index.html

These regulations implement the National Energy Board Act and contain the federal pipeline safety standards for oil and natural gas pipelines.

National Energy Board Accepts Recommendations of Auditor General of Canada (1998) - http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/newsroom/releases/nr98/nr9836_e.htm

This news release and backgrounder report outline the NEB's response to the Auditor General accepting such recommendations as improving the accident database, monitoring and compliance, risk assessment methodologies, cost recovery, and environmental and safety standards.

Pipeline Regulation: An Overview for Landowners and Tenants (1997) - http://www.neb.gc.ca/safety/pipereg_e.pdf

This booklet spells out the federal rights of landowners and procedures for companies to acquire rights-of-way for new interprovincial or international oil and natural gas pipelines in Canada.

Pipeline Safety (1997) - http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/safety/pipesafe_e.pdf

This booklet describes the safety standards and compliance program for interprovincial and international oil and natural gas pipelines in Canada.

Office of the Auditor General of Canada

Status of Action Taken on 1998 Recommendations: National Energy Board (2000) - http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/0028xe01.html

This table summarizes the recommendations for improved data gathering, enforcement and management procedures, and the status of the NEB's adoption of those recommendations.

1998 Report: National Energy Board (1998) - http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/9813ce.html

This detailed audit report by the equivalent to the U.S. General Accounting Office describes numerous (and familiar to observers of OPS) shortcomings of Canada's pipeline safety program.

 

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Report of the OECD Workshop on Pipelines: Prevention of, Preparedness for, and Response to Releases of Hazardous Substances (1997) - http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/1997doc.nsf/43bb6130e5e86e5fc
12569fa005d004c/2b7bbafb87048d7ec125654e005de532/$FILE/11E76335.DOC

This workshop brought together European industry and government officials to discuss how to improve pipeline safety and regulatory coordination among the member nations.

 

Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Pipeline Accidents Reports Index (2001) - http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/index.asp?section=2

These list on-line detailed reports about 13 major oil and natural gas pipeline accidents in Canada from 1994 to 2000.

 

United Kingdom Oil Pipeline Association

Publications and Presentations (2003) - http://www.ukopa.co.uk/publications/index.html#F

This index to UKOPA publications includes such documents as a report of pipeline accidents in the UK from 1961 to 2000.

Pipeline Fault Database: Pipeline Product Loss Incidents 1961-2000 (2002) - http://www.ukopa.co.uk/publications/pdf/R4798.pdf

This report provides several tables and charts that summarize the number, characteristics and causes of crude oil and refined products pipelines in the UK.