Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations

14 (1) Every installation shall be designed, constructed, equipped and insulated to ensure that, at the minimum air temperature that may occur at the drill site or production site during operations, based on an annual probability of exceedance of 10^-2,

• (a) in the case of a production installation, the production equipment and other associated equipment will operate in a safe and efficient manner;

• (b) the emergency shutdown system referred to in section 18 will perform its intended functions;

• (c) drilling safety systems and associated equipment will operate safely and in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications;

• (d) the fluids in the following systems and components will not freeze, namely,

  • (i) fresh water tanks and the associated piping,

  • (ii) vent pipes,

  • (iii) components of the drainage system,

  • (iv) the hydraulic system and its components, including operators and cylinders, and

  • (v) the firefighting system, including pump drives and fuel supply lines, fire pumps and associated piping, fire hydrants, fire hoses and nozzles;

• (e) every pneumatic control system will remain fully operational at all times;

• (f) the lifesaving appliances and associated devices will remain operational; and

• (g) in the case of a mobile offshore platform,

  • (i) the fluid in an operating ballast system, including the pumps, control systems and associated piping and valves, is protected against freezing,

  • (ii) the proper functioning of any thrusters is not impaired and the hydraulic fluid and lubricants for the thrusters have properties designed for such a temperature, and

  • (iii) the mooring winches and, where the platform is so equipped, the quick disconnect system will remain fully operational.

(2) Every installation shall be equipped with steam-generating equipment, or an equivalent means, that will keep the locations mentioned in subsection (3) free of ice and snow and lines thawed so as to permit drilling, production and maintenance operations to be conducted safely.

(3) Every installation that is equipped with steam-generating equipment, or an equivalent means, required by subsection (2) shall include outlets, hoses and hose clamps capable of being used in the following locations:

• (a) work areas;

• (b) walkways; and

• (c) in the case of an offshore installation, the helicopter deck and the lifeboat embarkation stations.

(4) Where temperatures below -20°C may occur, based on an annual probability of exceedance of 10^-2, at the drill site or production site more than one day per year and where the installation is equipped with steam-generating equipment, or an equivalent means, required by subsection (2),

• (a) that equipment shall meet the requirements set out in subsection (2) when operating at 75 per cent capacity; and

• (b) the installation shall be equipped with a second set of steam-generating equipment or another means of providing equivalent protection against ice, snow and freezing.