Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. – Amended Order AO-016-SG-N081-001-2014

File OF-Surv-Inc-2014 33
1 February 2021

Ms. Leslie Kass
Manager, Canadian Regulatory
Senior Vice President, Technical Centre
TC Energy
450 1^st Street SW
Calgary, AB  T2P 5H1

Dear Ms. Kass:

• TC Energy
  Request to Return to Service at Maximum Operating Pressure (MOP)
  NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.
  Eastern Alberta System Mainline (EAS ML) Empress to Princess Loop 3
  Safety Order SG-N081-001-2014
  Amended Order AO-015-SG-N081-001-2014

On 23 October 2020, the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator (Commission) received a request from TC Energy to remove the pressure restriction imposed on the EAS ML Empress to Princess Loop 3 (Loop) under Schedule C of Amended Order AO-015-SG-N081-001-2014 and return the Loop to full service based upon an accompanying Engineering Assessment (EA) that demonstrates it is safe to operate at its licensed MOP of 6070 kilopascals (kPa).

The operating pressure of the Loop was restricted by Safety Order SG-N081-001-2014, issued by the National Energy Board (NEB) on 4 March 2014, and last amended on 22 November 2018. On 28 August 2019, the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) replaced the NEB and all orders issued by the NEB are considered to have been made under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) and may be enforced as such.^{Footnote 1}

The Commission has considered the information provided in the EA and acknowledges that significant In-Line Inspection (ILI) and validation excavations has taken place on the Loop in the last year. The Commission understands that the predominant threats to the pipeline’s integrity are external corrosion and Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC), all of which are being managed by TC Energy. The threats currently posed by external corrosion and SCC are not an integrity concern and pipe condition monitoring will continue through ILI at appropriate intervals.

The Commission finds that the information presented in the supporting EA demonstrates that the EAS ML Empress to Princess Loop 3 is fit for service at its MOP. The Commission, therefore, approves TC Energy’s request to return the Loop to full service at its licensed MOP of 6070 kPa and has issued Amended Order AO-016-SG-N081-001-2014 to reflect the Loop having been removed from Schedule C of Amended Order AO-015-SG-N081-001-2014.

Yours sincerely,

Signed by

Jean-Denis Charlebois
Secretary of the Commission

Attachment

BEFORE the Commission of the CER (Commission) on 1 February 2021.

WHEREAS, on 5 March 2014, the National Energy Board (NEB) issued Safety Order SG-N081-001-2014 (the Order) requiring specific safety and security measures of TC Energy;

AND WHEREAS, between 28 March 2014 and 22 November 2018, the NEB issued Amending Orders AO-001-SG-N081-001-2014; AO-002-SG-N081-001-2014;
AO-003-SG-N081-001-2014; AO-004-SG-N081-001-2014; AO-005-SG-N081-001-2014;
AO-006-SG-N081-001-2014; AO-007-SG-N081-001-2014; AO-008-SG-N081-001-2014;
AO-009-SG-N081-001-2014; AO-010-SG-N081-001-2014; AO-011-SG-N081-001-2014;
AO-012-SG-N081-001-2014; AO-013-SG-N081-001-2014; AO‑014-SG-N081-001-2014;
AO-015-SG-N081-001-2014 to vary the Order, as set out in each Amending Order;

AND WHEREAS the CER Act came into force on 28 August 2019 and the NEB was replaced with the CER;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to section 33 of the transitional provisions associated with the CER Act, the Order made by the NEB is considered to have been made under the CER Act;

AND WHEREAS, on 23 October 2020, TC Energy filed a request to remove the pressure restriction on the NGTL Eastern Alberta System Mainline Empress to Princess Loop 3 based upon the accompanying engineering assessment that demonstrates the pipeline loop is safe to operate at its licensed Maximum Operating Pressure (MOP) of 6070 kPa;

AND WHEREAS the Commission has examined the engineering assessment and considers TC Energy’s request to remove the pressure restriction to be justified and that the pipeline loop is safe to operate at its licensed MOP;

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to subsection 69(1) of the CER Act, the Commission orders that the NGTL Eastern Alberta System Mainline Empress to Princess Loop 3 be removed from Schedule C of the Order.

As hereby amended, the consolidated conditions and Schedules of the Order now read as follows:

1. Subject to the conditions of the Order, the maximum operating pressure of the remaining unpiggable NGTL pipelines that TC Energy has calculated to have the highest societal risk shall be maintained at or below the pressures listed in Schedules B, C and D.
2. [Complied – AO-002-SG-N081-001-2014]
3. NGTL shall advise the Commission of pipelines, if any, for which natural gas supply diminishment resulting from the pressure reductions, as listed in the Schedules, are anticipated to result in a significant impact to public safety.
4. For each pipeline listed in Schedule A:
   a. – c. inclusive [Complied – AO-007-SG-N081-001-2014]
   d. – c. inclusive [Complied – AO-002-SG-N081-001-2014]
   f. [Complied – AO-007-SG-N081-001-2014]
5. For each pipeline listed in Schedule B:
   a. – f. inclusive [Removed – AO-014-SG-N081-001-2014]
6. The pressure restrictions shall remain in place until a plan and program to assess the integrity of the subject lines is approved by the Commission and implemented by TC Energy.
7. TC Energy shall comply with all of the conditions of this Order unless the Commission otherwise directs.

THE COMMISSION OF THE CANADA ENERGY REGULATOR

Signed by

Jean-Denis Charlebois
Secretary of the Commission

AO-016-SG-N081-001-2014

Schedule A

[Complied – AO-007-SG-N081-001-2014]

Schedule B – Pressure Reduction of 5% or 10% below 90 Day High Pressure (as Specified)

[Removed – AO-015-SG-N081-001-2014]

Schedule C – Pressure Reduction of 20% below 90 Day High Pressure

Schedule D – No additional Pressure Restriction Required

Date modified:

2021-09-16