ARCHIVED - Order KF-002-2013 to NOVA Gas Transmission Limited pursuant to Section 51.1 of the National Energy Board Act

Order KF-002-2013 to NOVA Gas Transmission Limited pursuant to Section 51.1 of the National Energy Board Act [PDF 242 KB]

IN THE MATTER OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD ACT,
AN ORDER UNDER SECTION 51.1

On 10 December 2013, the undersigned National Energy Board inspection officer conducted an investigation of NOVA Gas Transmission Limited (NGTL) Flat Lake Lateral Loop pipeline rupture (Incident 2013-162).

The inspection officer has noted the following:

• TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TCPL) operates the Flat Lake Lateral Loop on behalf of NGTL;
• The Flat Lake Lateral Loop includes three pipeline segments (NPS 20 SS #1212100, NPS 16 SS #1383100 and NPS 16 SS #1383101) between the Bens Lake Compressor Station and the Flat Lake Meter Station which have not been in-line inspected or hydrotested since their construction in 1975, of which, NPS 16 SS #1383101 is the segment containing the ruptured section;
• TCPL has initiated work to repair the Flat Lake Lateral Loop at the rupture site;
• An investigation in underway to identify the cause and contributing factors of the Flat Lake Lateral Loop rupture;
• The cause and contributing factors of the Flat Lake Lateral Loop rupture have not yet been determined;
• TCPL has not yet demonstrated the line is fit for service at full MOP following the Flat Lake Lateral Loop rupture;
• The ruptured section of the Flat Lake Lateral Loop will soon be put back in service;
• The other sections of the Flat Lake Lateral Loop are in operation;
• TransCanada has voluntarily committed to implement a pressure restriction on the three pipeline segments (NPS 20 SS #1212100, NPS 16 SS #1383100 and NPS 16 SS #1383101) between the Bens Lake Compressor Station and the Flat Lake Meter Station to 80% of the failure pressure, which corresponds to 6560 kPa.

Based on the above mention, the inspection officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a hazard to the safety or security of the public, or employees of a company or a detriment to property or the environment is being or will be caused by the construction, operation, maintenance or abandonment of the pipeline.

Therefore, TransCanada PipeLines Limited is HEREBY ORDERED, pursuant to section 51.1 of the National Energy Board Act, to

Specified Measures: TCPL shall not operate the Flat Lake Lateral Loop segments identified as NPS 20 SS #1212100, NPS 16 SS #1383100 and NPS 16 SS #1383101, located between the Bens Lake Compressor Station and the Flat Lake Meter Station, at a pressure above 6560 kPa, until TCPL has provided an engineering assessment that is acceptable to the Board, demonstrating that the pipeline can safely be operated above that pressure. As soon as practicable after receiving this order, TCPL shall confirm to the inspection officer that it complies with this order and that overpressure protection devices have been adjusted to protect the line from exceeding the restricted pressure in accordance with CSA Z662-11. If this order is still in effect six months after it was issued, TCPL shall submit to the Board an engineering assessment demonstrating that the pipeline can continue to be safely be operated at the restricted pressure.

Signed by:

Inspection Officer:

Date modified:

2021-02-22