ARCHIVED – Order NB-001-2018 (Amendment No. 1) to Westcoast Energy Inc. pursuant to section 51.1 of the National Energy Board Act

INSPECTION OFFICER ORDER NO. NB-001-2018 (Amendment No. 1)

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

is employed by Westcoast Energy Inc. carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Westcoast), and/or is a person conducting a ground disturbance or construction on or near a facility located at Prince George, British Columbia.

On or about 10 October 2018 at 9:30pm Mountain Time, the undersigned National Energy Board (NEB) Inspection Officer conducted an inspection of the Westcoast NPS 30 Mainline (NPS 30 L1) and NPS 36 Loop (NPS 36 L2) near Prince George, British Columbia.

The Inspection Officer has determined that a hazard is being or will be caused based on the following facts:

• A rupture occurred on the NPS 36 L2 at 17:30 Pacific Time on 9 October 2018 (INC-2018-142) resulting in a failure of the line.
• The NPS 30 L1 is located in the same Right of Way as the NPS 36 L2.
• An investigation by the Transportation Safety Board is underway to identify causes and contributing factors of the NPS 36 L2 rupture.
• The causes and contributing factors of the NPS 36 L2 rupture have not yet been determined.
• Westcoast has not yet demonstrated that either of the lines are fit for service at full Maximum Operating Pressure following the rupture.
• Westcoast has voluntarily committed to implement pressure restrictions on both lines.
• An Inspection Officer Order (NB-001-2018) was issued by the NEB on 10 October 2018 to ensure immediate safety.
• Based on the receipt of more detailed information, and further assessment conducted as the investigation of the NPS 36 L2 rupture has progressed, modified and additional measures are required to ensure ongoing safety (NB-001-2018 (Amendment No. 1)). NB-001-2018 (Amendment No. 1) replaces in its entirety the Inspection Officer Order issued on 10 October 2018.

Based on the above mentioned, the inspection officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a hazard to the safety or security of the public or of 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, or any part of a pipeline, an abandoned pipeline or any part of it, or a ground disturbance or the construction of a facility.

Therefore, Westcoast is HEREBY ORDERED,

pursuant to subsections 51.1(1) and 51.1(2) of the National Energy Board Act, to

Specified Measures:

1. Westcoast shall not operate any segment of the NPS 36 L2 located between Station 2 to the Huntington Meter Station at a pressure above 80% of that segment's 60 day high pressure prior to the incident (Restricted Operating Pressure, or ROP^{Footnote 1} for L2). Westcoast shall file with an NEB Inspection Officer (IO) confirmation that it has implemented the ROP within five (5) days after the date of issuance of this Inspection Officer Order. The ROP shall remain in place until Westcoast has demonstrated to the satisfaction of an IO, through an Engineering Assessment completed in accordance with CSA Z662-15 Clause 10.1, that the NPS 36 L2 is fit for service to safely operate at a pressure higher than the ROP. Engineering Assessments may be filed on a segment-by-segment basis.
2. Westcoast shall file with an IO, within 30 days after the date of issuance of this Inspection Officer Order, confirmation that the overpressure protection system for the NPS 36 L2 located between Station 2 to the Huntington Meter Station has been set in accordance with CSA Z662-15 Clause 10.9.5, as amended by ROP requirements^{Footnote 1}.
3. Westcoast shall not operate the NPS 30 L1 located between Compressor Station 4A and Compressor Station 4B at a pressure above 80% of its 60 day high pressure prior to the incident (ROP for L1). Westcoast shall file with an IO confirmation that it has implemented the ROP within five (5) days after the date of the issuance of this Inspection Officer Order. The ROP shall remain in place until Westcoast has demonstrated to the satisfaction of an IO that the NPS 30 L1 is safe to operate at a pressure higher than the ROP, in consideration of any damage resulting from the NPS 36 L2 rupture.

Inspection Officer

Inspection Officer		__________________________________ Signature
	IO Designation #
	23 October 2018
	Date
	210-517 10 Ave SW, Calgary AB  T2R 0A8

Date modified:

2023-05-18