Compliance Verification Activity Report: CV1617-443 - Kinder Morgan Cochin ULC

Overview

Compliance verification activity type: Field Inspection

Team:

• Inspector 2524
• Inspector 1906
• Inspector 2463

Regulated company: Kinder Morgan Cochin ULC

Operating company: Kinder Morgan Cochin ULC (Cochin)

Province(s) / Territory(s):

• Saskatchewan

Discipline(s):

• Environmental Protection
• Damage Prevention
• Integrity Management

Rationale and scope:

Following a large spill at of a provincially regulated oil pipeline in Saskatchewan at the North Saskatchewan River, the NEB is conducting multi-discipline inspections of liquid pipelines crossing the South Saskatchewan River and Wascana Creek. These inspections are in addition to previously planned inspections in Saskatchewan, and focus specifically on determining compliance to Damage Prevention, Integrity, and Environmental requirements at watercourse crossings. Staff from the Provincial Regulator participated in these inspections. This inspection includes the Canadian Western Section where it crosses the South Saskatchewan River.

Compliance tool(s) used:

• None

Facility details

Facilities:

• Canadian Western Section

Facility Types

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

Life-cycle Phases

• Operations

Regulatory requirements

Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:

• National Energy Board Act (NEBA)
• Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR)
• National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Obligations for Pipeline Companies
• National Energy Board Act (NEBA) 2016-06-19
• Standards
• CSA Z662-15 - Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems

Observations (no outstanding follow-up required)

Observation 1 - Safety - General

Date & time of visit: 2016-09-22 10:30

Discipline: Safety Management

Categories:

• Workplace Exposures and Protections
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Hazard Assessment

Facility:

• Canadian Western Section (Pipeline)

Observations:

• Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA) completed.
• All inspection participants observed with required and/or appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with FLHA.
• Company representatives present on site.
• No concerns noted.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 2 - Environment - General

Date & time of visit: 2016-09-22 10:30

Discipline: Environmental Protection

Categories:

• Soils and Soil Productivity
• Crowns/Subsidence
• Water Bodies - Fish-bearing
• Reclamation
• Vegetation
• Vegetation Reclamation
• Crop Productivity
• Species of Concern

Facility:

• Canadian Western Section (Pipeline)

Observations:

• Pipelines cross the South Saskatchewan River and adjacent lands to the east in a west to east direction.
• Lowlands on the eastern side of the crossing are not cropped and consist predominantly of a native prairie pasture. 
• Some crowning is visible is hillside slopes which is not uncommon for the standards of reclamation at the time this pipeline was installed. However, the vegetative species composition is appropriate for this prairie grassland habitat, and predominately, the RoW is difficult to distinguish from adjacent areas.
• Generally RoW conditions are similar on and off RoW in croplands on the eastern side of the valley. Crops have recently been harvested.
• No signs of soil subsidence over the pipeline identified.
• No slope stability or erosion concerns identified along slopes in the eastern river valley or at the eastern bank of the watercourse, and conditions upstream and downstream of the RoW crossing are similar.  
• No environmental concerns identified.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 3 - Damage Prevention - General

Date & time of visit: 2016-09-22 10:30

Discipline: Damage Prevention

Categories:

• RoW Maintenance
• Vegetation
• Pipeline Identification
• Signs
• Watercourses
• Railway and Road RoW

Facility:

• Canadian Western Section (Pipeline)

Observations:

• Pipeline identification signage present at observed road crossings to the eastern side of the watercourse and includes required and relevant information.
• Pipeline identification signage present on the eastern side of the watercourse (above the high water mark) and includes required and relevant information. 
• Adequate pipeline identification signage present at other appropriate locations along the RoW, such as property/fence lines.
• Officers contacted the emergency contact number posted on pipeline identification signage and reached the appropriate resources that would need to be contacted with Cochin in the event of an emergency.
• No third party activities ongoing in the area at the time of inspection.
• RoW patrols, frequency, and methods utilized by Cochin discussed.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 4 - Integrity - General

Date & time of visit: 2016-09-22 10:30

Discipline: Integrity Management

Categories:

• Pipeline
• ROW
• Signage
• Safety

Facility:

• Canadian Western Section (Pipeline)

Observations:

• Slope in this area is a long rolling hill with a flood plain at the toe
• No visual signs of slope stability or erosion concerns identified along slopes in eastern river valley or at the eastern bank of the watercourse, and condition upstream and downstream of the RoW crossing are similar.
• No integrity concerns identified.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 5 - MARCRORIE Block Valve (BVC 325)

Date & time of visit: 2016-09-22 11:33

Discipline: Integrity Management

Categories:

• Facilities
• Valves
• Pipeline
• Cathodic Protection
• Signage
• Pipeline Emergency

Facility:

• Canadian Western Section (Pipeline)

Observations:

- Appropriate pipeline identification signage present at road crossing.
- Facility has appropriate and required pipeline identification signage including operation company, location, and emergency contact information.
- Catholic protection test post present.
- Vegetation control in graveled facility site appropriate.
- No inappropriate storage and good housekeeping in the control/communications building.  
 

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observations (company follow-up required)

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