Canadian Energy Regulator Onshore Pipeline Regulations (SOR/99-294)

12 A compressor station or pump station shall be equipped with an alternate source of power capable of

• (a) operating the station’s emergency shut-down system;

• (b) operating an emergency lighting system for the safe evacuation of personnel from the station and for other emergency procedures; and

• (c) maintaining any other service essential to the safety of personnel and the public or the protection of the environment.

Storage Facilities

13 A storage facility shall

• (a) be located in an area that is known to be free from flooding, landslides, rockfalls and geological faults;

• (b) be serviced by an all-weather road that gives access to all permanently installed fire-fighting equipment located at or near the storage facility; and

• (c) have a containment area or a system designed to prevent the release or migration of stored products or toxic substances.

Materials

Specifications

14 A company shall develop specifications for the pipe and components to be used in the pipeline and shall submit them to the Regulator when required to do so.

Quality Assurance Program

15 A company shall develop a quality assurance program for the purpose of ensuring that the pipe and components to be used in the pipeline meet the specifications referred to in section 14.

Joining

Joining Program

16 A company shall develop a joining program in respect of the joining of pipe and the components to be used in the pipeline and shall submit it to the Regulator when required to do so.

Non-destructive Examination

17 When a company conducts joining on a pipeline, the company shall examine the entire circumference of each joint by radiographic or ultrasonic methods.

Construction

Construction Safety

• 18 (1) If a company contracts for the provision of services in respect of the construction of a pipeline, the company shall

  • (a) inform the contractor of all special conditions associated with the construction;

  • (b) inform the contractor of all special safety practices and procedures necessitated by the conditions or features specific to the construction;

  • (b.1) inform the contractor of the contractor’s responsibilities referred to in paragraph 6.5(1)(l);

  • (c) take all reasonable steps to ensure that construction activities are conducted in accordance with the manual developed under section 20; and

  • (d) authorize a person to halt a construction activity in circumstances where, in the person’s judgement, the construction activity is not being conducted in accordance with the manual developed under section 20 or is creating a hazard to anyone at the construction site.

• (2) The person referred to in paragraph (1)(d) must have sufficient expertise, knowledge and training to competently carry out the obligations set out in that paragraph.

19 A company shall, during the construction of a pipeline, take all reasonable steps to ensure that

• (a) the construction activities do not create a hazard to the public or the environment; and

• (b) all persons at the construction site who are not involved in the construction of the pipeline are informed of the practices and procedures that are to be followed for their safety.

• 20 (1) A company shall develop a construction safety manual and shall submit it to the Regulator.

• (1.1) If a company contracts for the provision of services in respect of the construction of a pipeline, the construction safety manual shall set out the contractor’s responsibilities referred to in paragraph 6.5(1)(l).

• (2) A company shall keep a copy of the construction safety manual or the relevant parts of it at each construction site of the pipeline, in a location where it is accessible to every person engaged in construction at the site.

Right-of-way and Temporary Work Areas

21 After a pipeline is constructed, the right-of-way and temporary work areas of the pipeline shall be restored to a condition similar to the surrounding environment and consistent with the current land use.

Crossing a Utility or Private Road

22 When a pipeline is constructed across a utility or private road, the company constructing the pipeline shall ensure that there is no undue interference with the use of the utility or road during construction.

Pressure Testing

Pressure Testing Program

23 Before putting a pipeline into service, a company shall develop a program in respect of pressure tests to be conducted for pipe and components used in its pipeline and shall submit it to the Regulator when required to do so.

Permits for Use and Disposal of Water

24 Before conducting a pressure test, a company shall obtain any permits required in respect of the use and disposal of water for test purposes.

General Testing Requirements

• 25 (1) Pressure testing shall be performed under the direct supervision of the company or an agent appointed by it.

• (2) The agent referred to in subsection (1) shall be independent of any contractor that carries out the pressure testing program or that constructed the pipeline.

• (3) The company or agent shall date and sign any logs, test charts and other test records that are referred to in CSA Z276 or CSA Z662, as applicable.

26 The number of welds in a pipeline that are not subjected to a pressure test following the installation of fabricated assemblies or pipe segments into the pipeline shall be minimized to the extent that is practicable.

Operation and Maintenance

Operation and Maintenance Manuals

27 A company shall develop, regularly review and update as required, operation and maintenance manuals that provide information and procedures to promote safety, environmental protection and efficiency in the operation of the pipeline and shall submit them to the Regulator when required to do so.

28 A company shall inform all persons associated with operation activities on the pipeline of the practices and procedures to be followed and make available to them the relevant portions of the operation and maintenance manuals.

Maintenance Safety

• 29 (1) If a company contracts for the provision of services in respect of the maintenance of a pipeline, the company shall

  • (a) inform the contractor of all special conditions associated with the maintenance;

  • (b) inform the contractor of all special safety practices and procedures necessitated by the conditions or features specific to the maintenance;

  • (b.1) inform the contractor of the contractor’s responsibilities referred to in paragraph 6.5(1)(l);

  • (c) take all reasonable steps to ensure that maintenance activities are conducted in accordance with the manual developed under section 31; and

  • (d) authorize a person to halt a maintenance activity in circumstances where, in the person’s judgement, the maintenance activity is not being conducted in accordance with the manual developed under section 31 or is creating a hazard to anyone at the maintenance site.

• (2) The person referred to in paragraph (1)(d) must have sufficient expertise, knowledge and training to competently carry out the obligations set out in that paragraph.

30 A company shall, during the maintenance of a pipeline, take all reasonable steps so that

• (a) the maintenance activities do not create a hazard to the public or the environment; and

• (b) all persons at the maintenance site who are not involved in the maintenance of the pipeline are informed of the practices and procedures that are to be followed for their safety or for the protection of the environment.

• 31 (1) A company shall develop a maintenance safety manual and shall submit it to the Regulator when required to do so.

• (1.1) If a company contracts for the provision of services in respect of the maintenance of a pipeline, the maintenance safety manual shall set out the contractor’s responsibilities referred to in paragraph 6.5(1)(l).

• (2) The company shall keep a copy of the maintenance safety manual or the relevant parts of it at each maintenance site of the pipeline, in a location where it is accessible to every person engaged in maintenance at the site.

Emergency Management Program

• 32 (1) A company shall develop, implement and maintain an emergency management program that anticipates, prevents, manages and mitigates conditions during an emergency that could adversely affect property, the environment or the safety of workers or the public.

• (1.1) The company shall develop an emergency procedures manual, review it regularly and update it as required.

• (2) A company shall submit the emergency procedures manual and any updates that are made to it to the Regulator.

33 A company shall establish and maintain liaison with the agencies that may be involved in an emergency response on the pipeline and shall consult with them in developing and updating the emergency procedures manual.

34 A company shall take all reasonable steps to inform all persons who may be associated with an emergency response activity on the pipeline of the practices and procedures to be followed and make available to them the relevant information that is consistent with that which is specified in the emergency procedures manual.

35 A company shall develop a continuing education program for the police, fire departments, medical facilities, other appropriate organizations and agencies and the public residing adjacent to the pipeline to inform them of the location of the pipeline, potential emergency situations involving the pipeline and the safety procedures to be followed in the case of an emergency.

General Operation Requirements

36 A company shall

• (a) maintain communication facilities for the safe and efficient operation of the pipeline and for emergency situations;

• (b) periodically test instruments and equipment at the pipeline stations to verify their proper and safe operation;

• (c) continually record the suction and discharge pressures of the pipeline pump and compressor stations;

• (d) clearly mark the open and closed positions of sectionalizing valves on any main line;

• (e) clearly mark the open and closed positions and the function of isolating valves, blow-down valves and other major valves within a pipeline station; and

• (f) post along the boundaries of the pipeline stations signage indicating the name of the company and the telephone number to call in the event of an emergency involving the pipeline.

Pipeline Control System

37 A company shall develop and implement a pipeline control system that

• (a) comprises the facilities and procedures used to control and monitor the operation of the pipeline;

• (b) records historical pipeline operation data, messages and alarms for recall; and

• (c) includes a leak detection system that, for oil pipelines, meets the requirements of CSA Z662 and reflects the level of complexity of the pipeline, the pipeline operation and the products transported.

Maintenance Welding

• 38 (1) A company shall not perform welding on a liquid-filled pipeline with a carbon equivalent of 0.50% or greater except if it has been demonstrated that no other practical alternative is available.

• (2) If a company performs welding referred to in subsection (1), the company shall treat the weld as a temporary installation and replace that installation with a permanent one as soon as is practicable.

• (3) Despite subsections (1) and (2) and section 16, if a company intends to perform welding on a liquid-filled pipeline with a carbon equivalent of 0.50% or greater and to treat it as a permanent installation, the company shall submit the welding specifications and procedures and the results of the procedure qualification tests to the Commission for approval.