Compliance Verification Activity Report: CV1617-536 - Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc.

Overview

Compliance verification activity type: Field Inspection

Team:

• Inspector 2083
• Inspector 1137
• Inspector In Training 2696T

Regulated company: Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc.

Operating company: Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc.

Province(s) / Territory(s):

• Ontario

Discipline(s):

• Safety Management
• Integrity Management

Rationale and scope:

Inspection of Integrity Dig work

Compliance tool(s) used:

• None

Facility details

Facilities:

• Mainline
• Toronto Airport Lateral

Facility Types

• Pipeline
• Pipeline
• Pipeline right of way (ROW)

Life-cycle Phases

• Operations

Regulatory requirements

Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:

• Canada Labour Code (CLC)
• Canada Labour Code (CLC)
• National Energy Board Act (NEBA)
• Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR)
• National Energy Board Act (NEBA) 2016-06-19
• Standards
• CSA Z662-15 - Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems

Regulatory instrument number(s):

• AO-002-SO-T217-03-2010

Observations (no outstanding follow-up required)

Observation 1 - General Safety Observations - MP-191.08-2017 - Day 1

Date & time of visit: 2017-03-28 09:00

Discipline: Safety Management

Categories:

• Workplace Exposures and Protections
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Electrical Safety
• Fire Protection
• Labels and Documentation
• Temporary Structures
• Signage

Facility:

• Mainline (Pipeline)

Observations:

Sommerville is the prime contractor on site. The Sommerville site supervisor provided the site specific orientation, reviewed the tool box meeting, traffic plan, site specific emergency response plan, and TNPI permits for Sommerville and the NDT company. TNPI representatives explained the process for ensuring that the pipeline is operating at a safe pressure for the feature (s) to be assessed. TNPI had their chief inspector on site and Sommerville had safety inspector also on site.

The site had a generator that provided power for the site.  Water was being pumped out from the trench to water bags that were located close to the dig site.  NEB inspectors confirmed that the generator was properly grounded and that the pump and generator had secondary containment.  The generator had a fire extinguisher and spill kit located nearby.
 
The site has a muster point which is also used for the designate smoking area and the first aid area. There is a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and a spill kit.  The site was observed to have appropriate signage and was maintained to allow safe access along the ROW.  Site personnel noted to be wearing appropriate PPE
 

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 2 - Integrity Observations - MP-191.08-2017 - Day 1

Date & time of visit: 2017-03-28 09:00

Discipline: Integrity Management

Categories:

• Pipeline
• Pipe Condition
• Inspections
• Coating
• Evaluation Imperfections

Facility:

• Mainline (Pipeline)

Observations:

NEB inspectors met with TNPI representatives at the dig site. The following records were provided:

• Welders qualification records
• Welders qualification list
• Welding procedure specifications
• In-line inspection tool specifications
• NDT Procedures
• Sleeve installation procedures and applicators lists
• Coating application procedures
• Coating qualification records
• Coating applicator list

• The line was operating at 137 PSI (945 kPa).  The product in the line was Diesel.
• The target feature was a dent with a ILI length of 216mm and depth of <6mm at the 1:10 clock position.  No width was reported. 
• The excavation was in a rocky terrain and had proper access and egress.
• The entire pipe joint was exposed from weld to weld when the NEB inspectors arrived on site and the pipe was properly supported.  The original coating was coal tar.
• There were three NDE technicians on site conducting NDE on the exposed pipe.  The target feature was examined using conventional UT.  The dimensions of the feature were longer the ILI predicted length at 380 mm.  The measured width was 100mm, at depth of 4.3mm and was interacting with the long seam weld.
• The NDE was not completed prior to the NEB inspectors leaving site.
• TNPI supervisor and the NDE technician confirmed that the entire length of the exposed pipe would be examined non-destructively with visual, MPI and UT (conventional and phased array) to check for metal losses, internal and external cracks.
• NEB inspectors verified that the NDE contractor had CGSB level II certification for UT and MT.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 3 - Information caviardée conformément au paragraphe 144(5) du Code canadien du travail

This information has been redacted pursuant to Section 144(5) of the Canada Labour Code

Observations (company follow-up required)

Identified non-compliances to company plans or procedures are non-compliances either to: