Whereas currently accepted technologies, including SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and MBS MaterialMass Balance System, can fail to detect leaks between 1.5 to 3 of pipeline flow volume which could result in upwards of 100,000 litres per hour of crude oil leaking without detection on a pipeline transporting 500,000 barrels per day; And whereas other internal industrial leak detection tools such as Smart Pig Technology have been proven to fail to locate pipeline flaws resulting in environmental damage; And whereas external hydrocarbon sensing cable is a proven technology that can detect leaks of less than 1 litre, making it possible to locate, contain and repair leaks before they become major environmental disasters: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial and federal governments to implement regulations that ensure pipeline safety standards are to the highest available standards and include mandatory external hydrocarbon sensing technologies.
Ministry of Energy, Mines Petroleum Resources In British Columbia, the Oil and Gas Commission OGC has the regulatory authority for provincial pipeline safety and spill prevention. Requirements for leakage prevention, identification and response are established in accordance with CSA Z662, as codified in the Oil and Gas Activities Act Pipeline Regulation, Section 7. The National Energy Board NEB regulates interprovincial pipeline safety. CSA Z662 also establishes the standards for leak prevention, identification and response for interprovincial pipelines, as codified in NEB Onshore Pipeline Regulations, Sections 37, 40 and 41. The OGC and NEB also conduct routine inspections of pipelines, oversee quality testing of pipelines during construction and operation, and review Integrity Management and Emergency Response Plans.
Ministry of Natural Resources The Government of Canada continues to advance initiatives to strengthen Canadas pipeline safety regime. For example, the Pipeline Safety Act, which came into force on June 19, 2016, puts in place measures to strengthen incident prevention, preparedness and response, and liability and compensation for federally regulated pipelines. The Act enshrines the polluter pays principle into law. All companies authorized to operate will be liable up to set limits e.g. 1 billion for companies operating major oil pipelines, irrespective of fault or negligence; all companies will also need to demonstrate they have the financial resources to match this liability. They continue to have unlimited liability if at fault or negligent. Changes such as this are an important step towards creating a culture and system where safety is of paramount importance. Currently, pipelines are required to meet specific Canadian Standards Association CSA standards. For example, CSA Z662 is the national standard that provides guidance in the design, operation, and maintenance of Canadas oil and gas pipeline systems and associated facilities. The standard is incorporated in federal and provincial pipeline legislation. It is updated regularly based on input from interested parties to ensure the most up-to-date technologies are incorporated. While pipeline leaks from federally regulated pipelines are relatively infrequent, our objective is zero incidents. This objective requires ongoing collaboration amongst all involved parties to ensure Canada continues to have world-class safety standards in place.