A PRIMER Environment & Energy in the NorthEnvironment & Energy Construction & Operation & Operation Construction Pipeline Pembina PI Pipeline COVER 6/18/04 11:59 AM Page 1 Page AM 11:59 6/18/04 COVER Pipeline PI About the Pembina Institute
The Pembina Institute is an independent non- programs. More information about the profit research, education and advocacy Pembina Institute is available at organization. It promotes environmental, social www.pembina.org or by contacting and economic sustainability through the development of practical solutions for The Pembina Institute businesses, governments, individuals and Box 7558 communities.The Pembina Institute provides Drayton Valley, AB policy research leadership on climate change, T7A 1S7 energy policy, green economics, renewable Tel: 780-542-6272 energy, and environmental governance, as well Fax: 780-542-6464 as extensive formal and public education E-mail: [email protected]
About the Author / Chris Severson-Baker
Chris Severson-Baker is Director of the opportunities to strengthen environmental Pembina Institute’s Energy Watch Program. He regulation, and encouraging industry to adopt graduated from the University of Alberta with a better practices. Chris has represented the BSc in Environmental and Conservation Science Pembina Institute on numerous provincial and in 1996, joining the Pembina Institute that same federal multi-stakeholder committees focussed About Pembina year. He has worked to reduce the impacts of on developing environmental management the oil and gas industry on the environment — policy for the oil and gas sector. providing recommendations to government on
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer i Acknowledgments and Disclaimer
The Pembina Institute would like to recognize ■ Lewis Rifkind (Yukon Conservation Society) the staff who have directly contributed to the ■ Wayne Sawchuk completion of this series of primers, including (Chetwynd Environmental Society) Tom Marr-Laing for writing and for guidance, ■ Megan Christie (Yukon Fish and Wildlife Niki Wilson and Mary Griffiths for research and Management Board) writing, Dave Mussell for providing illustrations ■ Mac Hislop (Canadian Parks and Wilderness and images, Michael Benson for research Society – Yukon Chapter) support, former colleague Janet Sumner for ■ Jennifer Walker-Larsen graphic presentation, our senior editor (Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board) Randee Holmes for writing and editing, ■ Jody Snortland Alison MacAlpine and Janet Shorten for editing (Sahtu Renewable Resources Board) and Hal Retzer for assisting with research and ■ Petr Cizek (Ecology North) writing of early drafts of the documents as a ■ Adrian Paradis Pembina Institute volunteer. (Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board) The Pembina Institute would also like to thank ■ Robert Jenkins, Sarah Aho the numerous individuals working in industry, and George McCormick government and the environmental community (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) who took the time to review one or all of primers ■ Alisha Chauhan (Inuvialuit Game Council) and to provide comments and information. ■ Russ Nelson (Shell Canada Limited) Thank you also to the numerous behind-the- ■ Brian Heppelle (Environment Canada) scenes reviewers who provided comments by ■ Bruce Hanna and Pete Cott way of the primary contact people listed below: (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). ■ Peter Ewins and Celeste Booth The Pembina Institute is especially grateful (World Wildlife Fund) to the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, ■ Kevin O’Reilly, Clive Tesar and Mary McCreadie who provided a grant that made the research (Canadian Arctic Research Committee) and writing of this report possible. ■ Peter Millman (Devon Canada Corporation) The contents of this document are entirely the ■ Douglas Mead (Mead Environmental Services responsibility of the Pembina Institute and do (formerly Shell Canada Limited) not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ■ Doug Iverson (Encana) those acknowledged above. ■ Terry Forkheim (Anadarko Canada) ■ Mike Doyle (Canadian Association © Pembina Institute of Geophysical Contractors) for Appropriate Development. ■ Cynthia Pyc (BP Canada Energy Company) ISBN: 0-921719-51-5 Acknowledgements
ii The Pembina Institute Contents
About the Pembina Institute...... i About the Primers ...... 3 Introduction ...... 5 What Is Pipeline Construction and Operation?...... 7 ❚ Pipeline Planning...... 8 ❚ Pipeline Construction...... 8 ■ Building Access Roads...... 8 ■ Clearing Land...... 8 ■ Installing the Pipeline...... 9 ■ Building Facilities to Operate the Pipeline...... 9 ■ Maintaining the Pipeline...... 10 ❚ Moving On...... 11 Environmental Impacts ...... 12 ❚ Disturbance of the Land Surface...... 12 ■ Permafrost ...... 13 ■ Wildlife...... 13 ■ Fish ...... 14 ■ Vegetation ...... 14 ❚ Damage to Soil and Water...... 16 ❚ Soil Erosion ...... 16 Contents ❚ Spills and Leaks...... 16 ❚ Damage to Air Quality...... 17 ❚ Cumulative Impacts ...... 19 ❚ There is still a lot we don’t know...... 20
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 1 Using the Best Practices Available...... 21 ❚ Planning...... 22 ■ Integrated Land Use Planning...... 22 ❚ Pipeline Design and Construction Stages ...... 26 ❚ Low-Impact Access Techniques ...... 28 ■ Temporary Road Access...... 28 ■ Permanent Road Access...... 28 ■ Remote Operation Technology ...... 29 ❚ Low-impact Water Crossings ...... 29 ❚ Preventing, Detecting, and Handling Spills and Leaks...... 32 ■ Spill Prevention...... 32 ■ Spill Detection and Response ...... 33 ■ Double-Walled Pipelines...... 34 ■ Pipeline Abandonment ...... 34 ❚ Minimizing Air Emissions ...... 34 ■ Maintenance Venting and Flaring ...... 34 ■ Coordination of Pipeline Outages...... 35 ■ Remote Shutdown Capability of Gas Gathering Systems and Operating Wells...... 35 ■ Reducing Emissions from Operating Equipment ...... 35 ■ Reducing Emissions by Improving Efficiency...... 35 ■ Industry Best Practice Commitment to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions...... 36 Citizens’ Rights...... 40 ❚ Find out about Proposed Projects...... 40 ❚ Learn about Public Consultation Rules...... 41 ❚ Review the Pipeline Construction and Operation Application...... 41 ❚ Participate in Decision Making ...... 45 For More Information...... 46
2 The Pembina Institute About the Primers
The Pembina Institute’s Energy Watch There are four parts to each of these primers: program has developed a series of eight primers 1. A basic description of the activities of to help northern communities understand the that phase potential environmental and, where applicable, human health impacts of oil and gas develop- 2. The potential environmental and human ment.The primers also aim to help these health risks of that phase communities effectively take part in managing 3. The best practices available to reduce these risks, ensuring that governments and those risks oil and gas developers are using the best 4. Opportunities for citizens to get involved environmental practices available. in deciding how developers carry out Each of the first six primers focuses on a the activity. different phase of oil and gas development. About the Primers
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 3 The following are the six phases of oil and gas oil and gas from the place it comes out of the development addressed by the primers: ground to the places where consumers will Seismic Exploration — industry activities to use it. create a picture or map of the geology below The last two primers focus specifically on the Earth’s surface to find oil and gas reserves. citizens’ rights around oil and gas development Land Disposition — the actions companies projects: need to take to get the rights to explore for and Citizens’ Rights and Oil and Gas Development: produce oil and gas reserves. Northwest Territories explains the rights that Exploration and Production Drilling — the citizens have related to oil and gas activities companies perform to first locate oil development in the Northwest Territories. and gas, then to find out the size and usability Citizens’ Rights and Oil and Gas Development: of an oil and gas reservoir, and finally to reach Yukon Territory explains the rights that citizens the oil and gas using intensive production have related to oil and gas development in the drilling. Yukon Territory. Well Site Operation — industry practices to To produce these primers, the authors reviewed remove oil and gas from underground the limited oil and gas development already reservoirs and transport them to the surface. under way in Canada’s North.They also Oil and Gas Processing — actions companies researched the current issues and practices in take to process oil and gas to prepare it for sale. Alberta, northeast British Columbia, and the Alaskan North Slope, where intensive oil and Pipeline Construction and Operation — gas development is already occurring. industry activity to set up pipelines that carry
4 The Pembina Institute Introduction
Just as they were about twenty years ago, Since it is the people of the North who will companies are once again actively exploring for experience the most direct impacts, it is oil and gas reserves in the frontier regions of important that they play a strong role in setting the Northwest Territories and the Yukon the terms and conditions of such development. Territory. If developers decide to develop these When deciding on the actions they will take, resources, they will have to build a large industry and various levels of government need capacity (or large diameter) pipeline to export to be respectful of and consider the needs and the oil and gas from the far North to other wishes of Northern communities. regions. Once developers make a final decision During the past few decades, the oil and gas to build one or more pipelines, and once industry has become more aware of the regulators approve the plans, oil and gas environmental impacts associated with its exploration and production activity in the work.Technologies and practices have become North will quickly increase. much less environmentally damaging than they Developing the oil and gas resources of the were in the past. And most, though not all, North would offer the people living there many companies have responded to social and opportunities for economic development. But it environmental concerns. Despite these is important that companies developing oil and improvements, there are still negative gas reserves, and governments and other environmental impacts associated with oil and regulators overseeing the work, make sure they gas development and production.This is do not damage the cold, slow-growing and especially true in areas where the activity is sensitive northern ecosystems.While there will intensive. be unavoidable environmental impacts When the public shares their questions, because of oil and gas exploration, developers
concerns and expectations about this work — Introduction and regulators can reduce impacts with careful directly to companies, through the media, and planning and by using the best available through regulators that inspect the work and technologies and practices.
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 5 enforce regulations — this helps to uphold and There are four sections in this primer: improve industry performance.When the public • Part 1 provides a general description of is able to take part in effectively influencing pipeline construction and operation decisions around oil and gas exploration, this pushes companies to higher levels of • Part 2 outlines the potential environment- performance.When the public gives their input al impacts associated with pipelines they tend to examine all companies equally; their participation ensures that all developers • Part 3 describes technologies and best follow the best practices possible. practices that companies can use to reduce environmental risks This primer, Pipeline Construction and Operation, focuses on industry activity to set • Part 4 offers information on citizen rights up pipelines that carry oil and gas from the and opportunities to influence decisions place it comes out of the ground to the places on pipeline proposals. where consumers will use it.
6 The Pembina Institute What Is Pipeline Construction and Operation? What Is Pipeline Construction and Operation? Pipelines are used to transport oil and gas to have a large diameter and operate at high treatment plants (e.g., oil batteries and gas pressure. plants), and from treatment plants to market. Factors that affect pipeline design include pipe Pipelines are also used to carry water that is wall thickness, type of metal alloy used, type of produced by oil or gas wells (produced water) corrosion-resistant coating used, and spill- or to processing plants so that it can be cleaned leak-reducing features. and disposed of. A pipeline must run through land that is clear Pipelines come in different sizes and have and free of development.The amount of a “set different pressures, depending on the volume back”or the amount of clear land needed on and type of content they contain. There are two main types of pipelines in the oil and gas industry: 1) “Gathering system” pipelines — These pipelines collect raw oil and gas from well sites and carry them to processing facilities, such as a gas plant or an oil battery. Gathering system pipelines tend to have a relatively small diameter and operate at relatively low pressure. 2) “Transmission system” pipelines — These pipelines ship the processed oil and gas to market.Transmission system pipelines tend to Gathering system pipelines gather gas from wells and transport it to a gas plant.
SOURCE: PEMBINA INSTITUTE CREDIT: DAVE MUSSELL Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 7 either side of a pipeline varies considerably OIL BATTERY and depends mainly on the following: the type of oil, gas, or mixture to be carried; the pipeline An oil battery is a processing plant where pressure; the hydrogen sulphide content of the impurities in oil,such as gas,water,and sand, oil or gas; the risk of corrosion; and the are removed from the oil before it is pumped proximity of the pipeline to people and into a pipeline and shipped to market. sensitive environments. A gas plant processes raw natural gas to Pipelines are normally buried underground, remove impurities,making it high enough but in some cases pipelines are raised above quality to be transported in gas transmission the ground on supports. pipelines and then burned in a typical home furnace or electrical power plant. Pipeline Planning Before pipeline construction begins, an exten- sive route selection and planning process takes 1) Building Access Roads place. Companies investing in the pipeline will Before pipeline construction begins, crews first want to develop the most profitable project. build temporary roads to allow access during Therefore, they’ll select the ideal pipeline size the construction phase.They may also build and route, and they’ll consider expanding the permanent roads to provide access after the project to include more sources of oil or gas pipeline is in operation. along the pipeline route. Planners generally look for a route that uses previously disturbed 2) Clearing Land areas to minimize new environmental damage. Planners may conduct an environmental Crews clear trees and other vegetation along the impact assessment, depending on the size route of the pipeline, called the “right-of-way.” and type of pipeline planned. The amount of land to be cleared depends on the size of the pipeline and the size of the trucks Pipeline Construction and other equipment needed to transport the pipe segments and build the pipeline. In the case There are four basic steps to pipeline construction: of a buried pipeline, this step also includes 1. building access roads removing and stockpiling topsoil, and digging 2. clearing land trenches that will hold the pipeline. 3. installing the pipeline 4. building facilities to operate the pipeline
8 The Pembina Institute riverbed or streambed without disrupting the flow of water. In the case of an aboveground pipeline, this step also includes building supports upon which to place the pipeline as it is progressively welded together. Crews may need to build bridges to carry the pipeline over water bodies that cannot be avoided.
4) Building Facilities to Operate the Pipeline Crews must also build all the facilities Pig-launcher. that are needed to operate a pipeline, SOURCE: PEMBINA INSTITUTE including the following: 3) Installing the Pipeline Compressor stations — These buildings, which are the size of a small house, Pipeline segments are welded together, and contain one or more large gas- or electric- the pipeline is progressively buried in the powered compressor engines.The compressor trench as construction proceeds. Once a buried engine increases the gas pressure in the pipeline has been covered over and the topsoil pipeline so that gas will flow through it. A has been replaced, the surface is usually compressor engine is one of many different seeded with grass or other groundcover plant units at gas plants and is used to compress gas to prevent erosion from wind and rain. leaving the facility by pipeline. Long gas When the crew comes to install a pipeline at a pipelines may need a series of compressor river or stream that cannot be avoided, it will stations along the pipeline to boost pressure. use one of several water-crossing methods. Pumping stations — These buildings contain Most water-crossing methods involve large gas- or electric-powered pump engines temporarily damming or redirecting water that apply pressure to oil and water so they will while the crew installs the pipeline under the flow through the pipeline. Pumping stations bed of the river or stream.To avoid potential are located at oil batteries and used to push oil damage to fish or fish habitat caused by through pipelines leaving the facility. Long oil interrupting flows and disturbing the riverbed, pipelines may need a series of pumping crews can also use a special drilling rig to drill a stations along the pipeline to boost pressure. hole from one bank to the other below the
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 9 while the system is operating.They check for leaks and stress fractures by monitoring changes in the pipeline’s internal pressure. Operators also test for pitting (internal corrosion) using an inspection tool called a “smart pig,” and they monitor the pipeline right-of-way from the ground or air. On a regular basis, they clean the inside of the pipeline using “scraper pigs” to clear built-up residue. If a leak is found, the pipeline is shut down, that section of the line is purged of oil, gas, or water, and the pipeline is repaired.
Workers must excavate buried pipelines to conduct external inspections and to repair Any spilled oil or water that can be collected segments. is removed and the more difficult task of
SOURCE: BALLYMAC HOLDINGS LTD. removing or treating the contaminated soil or water begins. If corrosion is detected in Aboveground valves — These tools are used the pipeline, operators schedule a time to to control the flow of contents through the replace damaged segments with new pieces pipeline. of pipeline. Pipeline tie-in locations — These are the Before most types of maintenance work can be places where other gas or oil pipelines are done on the segment of a pipeline, that connected to the main pipeline. segment must be emptied of gas (this process Pig-launchers/Pig-traps — These facilities is called a “blowdown”) or drained in the case provide access points where operators can of oil or water. In the case of gas pipelines, insert devices called “pigs”that can be used to operators close the nearest block valves on either clean out the pipe or scan the inside of either side of the segment to reduce the the pipe for cracks or corrosion. amount of gas that must be purged. Depending on the pipeline and the location of Maintaining the Pipeline these valves, several kilometres of pipeline of After the pipeline has been constructed, all or gas may need to be purged. Operators then a portion of the right-of-way is kept clear of open a special blowdown valve to release the trees and shrubs to let vehicles access, check gas to the air. Opening the blowdown valve on, and, if necessary, repair the pipeline. results in a loud roaring sound that can last Operators can conduct integrity checks from 30 minutes to an hour before pressure in
10 The Pembina Institute the pipeline drops and the sound is reduced. than leaving them in the ground. Finally, The entire blowdown can last for up to 3 hours1 operators either try to re-establish native plant After the pressure drops, a funnel-shaped air species on the right-of-way or let them grow expeller is placed on the blowdown valve to back on their own. draw out any remaining gas. Operators could Since each area is unique, any oil and gas use pull down or transfer compressors to development will impact each area differently. transfer a portion of gas into another segment The nature and extent of environmental impacts of the pipeline to reduce the need for will depend upon the regional ecosystem type, venting and the amount of noise.When the local terrain characteristics, the presence or maintenance is finished, operators pump absence of tree cover and permafrost, and the natural gas into the segment and open the type of soil. blowdown valve again to get rid of any air This section identifies potential land that is in the pipeline.When 100% natural disturbances that may result from pipeline gas comes out of the blowdown valve, the construction and operation. Some impacts are valve is shut and the pipeline is ready to go common to all areas; others are particular to an back into operation. area that may be sensitive in some way. Moving On When a pipeline is no longer needed — oil and gas in the area has been depleted or the pipeline has reached the end of its useful life — all gases and liquids are removed from it, and the pipeline is plugged. Aboveground pipelines are dismantled and removed. Underground pipelines might be left in place if removing them could potentially create more damage to the land surface Above ground large volume oil transmission pipeline in Alaska SOURCE: KEN MADSEN
1 TransCanada Blowdown Notification Fact Sheet, February 2001. http://www.transcanada.com/pdf/social/Blowdown_factsheet_eng.pdf (July 2003). Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 11 Environmental Impacts
Canada’s north is a diverse landscape. It contains seven distinct ecological areas:
Arctic Cordillera Ecozone mountains, rock, ice and glaciers, few plants and animals
Northern Arctic Ecozone barren plains, permafrost, some rock, seabirds and muskox
Southern Arctic Ecozone shrubs, meadows, lakes, large mammals
Taiga Cordillera Ecozone mountains, arctic shrubs and flowers, wetlands, valleys, waterfalls, canyons, rivers, wide range of mammals
Taiga Plains Ecozone low-lying plains, large rivers, rich diversity of plants, birds and mammals
Taiga Shield Ecozone coniferous forest, bedrock, lakes, wetlands, meeting of the boreal and arctic zones
Boreal Cordillera Ecozone mountains and valleys separated by wide lowlands
Disturbance of the Land Surface leaves breaks or separations in ecosystems. Fragmentation of the landscape disrupts Developing access roads and associated habitat and affects the movement of wildlife. facilities to support the construction and The construction and operation of pipelines operation of oil and gas pipelines disturbs can also impact the land if vehicles compact the surface of the land.This disturbance starts the soil or damage the vegetative mat. at the stage of exploration and production drilling (see Exploration and Production Drilling: The time it takes for temporary access roads A Primer) and lasts until roads, pipelines, used during the construction of a pipeline to utility corridors, and the well pads that supply be fully restored to a natural state can vary oil or gas to the pipeline are fully reclaimed significantly. Restoration time depends on the and restored. time of year roads are built, the surface preparation needed and equipment transport When developers create roads, camps, methods used, and the sensitivity of the equipment storage areas, oil and gas treatment soil/vegetation. Pipelines and their associated facilities, pipelines, and other clearings, this Environmental Impacts roads and facilities may stay open and active
12 The Pembina Institute for decades before they are finally abandoned MORE PIPELINES CAN and the disturbed areas recovered. LEAD TO MORE DRILLING
Over time, as companies build more and more The lack of a pre-existing gathering system pipeline and processing infrastructure in an pipeline to transport produced gas or oil is often area, production costs become cheaper.This a major economic barrier to exploration and means that previously uneconomic reserves of production drilling in a given area, even if a oil and gas can become economic to produce. company is confident that reserves exist. This can result in multiple waves of oil and gas Removing this barrier through construction of a exploration and production activity in a given new pipeline often leads to more drilling and area and lead to cumulative impacts. more oil and gas production than originally Permafrost planned in a given area. In arctic environments, the extent of surface disturbance depends on the type of soil and access adjoining habitat, they will generally whether the soil is permafrost (a permanently avoid being within 250 metres of these lines.2 frozen layer of soil underlying the “active layer” In addition, wolves will use cleared pathways to on top that melts and re-freezes each year). quickly access an area, thus increasing Permafrost soils are easily damaged.They are predation on certain animals. Cleared areas very sensitive to changes in temperature. have created more habitat for moose.The Human activities, including the operation of presence of larger moose populations may large equipment, can result in dramatic decrease habitat available to other animals, reshaping of the land through rutting of roads, attract predators to the area, and thereby upset “melt-outs”and subsidence (settling of the the ecological balance.3 Oil and gas pipeline land). Disturbing, compressing or removing any operation and construction may generally surface material and vegetation can result in affect the size of wildlife populations, the increased soil temperatures in summer months. location of herds, and their traditional This can seriously damage the permafrost. migratory paths. Wildlife Continuous noise from pipeline compression and pumping engines and the sudden roaring Areas where there are many right of ways, noise caused by pipeline blowdowns can also cutlines and access roads damage wildlife and disturb wildlife.Wilderness areas can be wildlife movement. For example, although damaged by the transportation of both woodland caribou often cross cutlines to
2 Dyer, S.J. Summary of master of Science Thesis: Movement and distribution of woodland caribou in response to industrial development in northeastern Alberta (University of Alberta, 1999). http://www.deer.rr.ualberta.ca/caribou. October 5, 2000. 3 Bob Wyne’s presentation at the CPAWS Oil and Gas Workshop, Boreal Caribou Research Program, Alberta’s Boreal Caribou and Oil and Gas Development, May 26, 2000. Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 13 personnel and equipment to and from pipeline downstream, by releasing sediment into the operating facilities. Permanent roads and watercourse that is deposited further pipeline corridors provide extensive and long- downstream. Fish can be impacted directly if term access to hunters, fishers, and industrial the crossing requires a temporary blockage of and recreational users, which can have a severe the stream flow.5 impact on wilderness areas and wildlife populations. Vegetation Spills of oil and produced water can damage In addition to wildlife, trees and other plants soil and vegetation and adversely impact water are also affected by land disturbance caused by quality. Oil spills can be particularly damaging constructing and operating oil and gas to aquatic environments and very difficult to pipelines.When vegetation in arctic regions is clean up. damaged or removed, it takes a long time to grow back.This is because the growing season is short, and many areas have permafrost soils and slow-growing plant species. Compared with more southern parts of Canada, northern Canadian vegetation takes more time to recover from surface disturbances like roads and pipeline corridors. Since oil and gas are non-renewable resources, companies will eventually exhaust supplies. Any surface impacts associated with resource extraction should, in theory, be temporary. However, surface impacts associated with oil and gas development often last far longer than initially expected.This is because oil and gas Arctic fox. production typically becomes cheaper as SOURCE: KEN MADSEN developers build production and transmission infrastructure and as there are advances in Fish technology.This means that previously Pipeline watercourse crossings that involve uneconomic reserves of oil and gas can trenching of the bottom of the stream or river become economic to produce. In other words, bed can damage fish habitat, either in the previously constructed pipelines and other immediate area of the crossing, or facilities can be in production longer and
5 Cott, P.A and J.P.Moore. April 2003.Working Near Water: Considerations for Fish and Fish Habitat, Reference and Workshop Manual. Northwest Territories, Department of Fisheries and Oceans – Western Arctic Area. 14 The Pembina Institute companies may drill new wells in areas initially they will collectively build more pipelines and thought to be fully exploited. associated facilities than are really necessary. If companies do not work cooperatively to Unnecessary pipeline infrastructure coordinate the routes and the sizes of the creates unnecessary additional industrial pipelines, instead of designing pipelines that “footprint”impacts. meet the needs of individual companies only,
ARCTIC CARIBOU
Arctic caribou can be affected by the presence of when there are a lot of insects.The lack of oil and gas well pads,roads,processing facilities, vegetation and the cooler air on gravel surfaces and pipeline and utility corridors: 4 means there are fewer insects to trouble the Increased Predation caribou. Oil-field development may increase the impact Energy Stress of predators on caribou by forcing them to When vehicles and roads disturb an area, move into areas that have more predators,by caribou react by becoming more active.This increasing access of predators into areas where means that they spend more time and energy the caribou live,and by making caribou more walking and running than do undisturbed vulnerable to predators by forcing them into the caribou.However,caribou that are also being open areas more often where they have less harassed by insects tend to be less sensitive to protection. oil-field disturbances. Changes in Distribution Productivity Studies in Alaska have found that,when they The amount of weight that Arctic caribou gain give birth to their calves,caribou will move away depends on the vegetation they eat during the from areas where companies are developing. summer.Caribou that do not gain enough Caribou that have just given birth are sensitive weight during the summer are less likely to to disturbance and avoid roads and gravel pads become pregnant.The size of caribou herds with human activity for up to two to three could become smaller if oil and gas activity were weeks.Conversely,caribou will sometimes stand to reduce the quality of and access to the or lie on gravel pads and roads during times vegetation they eat.
4 Truett, J. and S. Johnson. 2000.The Natural History of an Arctic Oil Field: Development and Biota.
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 15 Pipeline Right-of-way, Eastern Slopes Alberta. Fragmentation in Alberta.
SOURCE:VIVIAN PHARIS SOURCE:WAYNE SAWCHUK
Damage to Soil and Water Spills and Leaks Pipeline construction and operation can cause Spills and leaks from pipelines are a major damage to both soil and water quality, as source of contamination in oil- and gas- outlined in detail below. producing areas. Pipeline leaks can directly expose vegetation and wildlife to oil and saline Soil Erosion produced water, and contribute to overall Pipeline construction can damage soil through degradation of soil and surface waters.While erosion and compaction (increased density of much of the spilled hydrocarbon and saline soil).When crews remove vegetation from the water can be contained and removed quickly, land, or when their equipment damages the affected sites can take years or even permafrost, this can lead to soil erosion. Soil decades to completely recover. that would have been held in place by trees Slow leaks often cause major soil and other vegetation is now steadily worn contamination. Small “pinhole”leaks due to away from the surface by rain, snow and wind internal corrosion may not be detected for a and deposited as sediment into lakes, rivers long time because they have very little impact and streams resulting in siltation (clouding of on pipeline pressure. As a result, slow leaks can the water and deposits of fine particles on the release large volumes of oil or produced water bottom). into the environment.
16 The Pembina Institute Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) is one kind of failure that can occur as a result of external corrosion in buried pipelines. SCC refers to small cracks that develop on the outside surface of the buried pipeline.The cracks are not visible to the naked eye. Over a period of years, individual cracks can lengthen and deepen and join with other cracks, becoming large enough to cause the pipeline to fail or leak.While SCC is a factor in only a small percentage of pipeline failures, it Moose and calf is of particular concern because SOURCE: CPAWS – YUKON CHAPTER it can contribute to large explosions and fires. Damage to Air Quality Several serious pipeline failures and growing Many kinds of air emissions are associated with evidence of more widespread potential for SCC pipeline operations, including the following: prompted the National Energy Board to initiate a Canada-wide inquiry into SCC in 1995. In spite • carbon dioxide (CO2) from burning natural of new monitoring procedures, SCC failures still gas to power pumps and compressors and occur. On February 7, 1999, an SCC failure of a flaring, which is a greenhouse gas pipeline owned by a subsidiary of TransCanada • methane (CH4) from fugitive emissions and Pipelines Limited resulted in a massive purging of gas lines, which is a greenhouse explosion and fire at a location 80 km gas southwest of Drayton Valley, Alberta.8 In early • sulphur dioxide (SO2) from flaring, which is an December 2003 two failures occurred in a single acidifying emission day on TransCanada’s Alberta pipeline system.9 The ruptures were 15 kilometres apart from • nitrogen oxides (NOx) from burning natural each other and approximately 100 km south of gas to power pumps and compressors and Grande Prairie. flaring, which are acidifying emissions
8 “Preliminary Assessment Indicates SCC Caused NGTL Line Break,”TransCanada Pipelines Limited Press Release, February 19, 1999. 9 “Western Alberta System Pipeline Incidents,”TransCanada Pipelines Limited Press Release, December 2, 2003. Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 17 • polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and changes or flow imbalances and may only be volatile organic carbon compounds (VOCs), detected by actual observations at the surface both from flaring, which include toxic of the pipeline. Landowners are often the first compounds and fine particulate matter that to spot many of the pipeline failures that occur affect human health in more populated areas of Canada. After a leak • if the oil or gas is sour, hydrogen sulphide or spill has been detected, the volume of additional gas or liquid released depends on (H2S) from flaring, an acutely toxic air pollutant. how long it takes to depressurize the pipeline. The shorter the time to depressurize the The largest source of air emissions from pipeline pipeline, the less leakage occurs. In the case of operations is from burning natural gas to drive large gas compressors and oil pump engines. Burning natural gas results in the emission of FREQUENCY OF nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. PIPELINE FAILURES Other large sources of air emissions include flaring of gas for safety reasons when there is a Between 1980 and 1997,the oil and gas problem with the pipeline and part of the industry averaged 674 pipeline failures (leaks pipeline needs to be shut down; pipeline and spills) per year in Alberta.6 During fiscal blowdowns, which involves flaring and venting year 1998/99,885 pipeline failures occurred.7 gas to empty a section of the pipeline for At the end of 1997 there were approximately maintenance; leaks from pipe connections and 266,000 km of energy-related pipeline in valves; and pipeline leaks and spills.These Alberta.Most of the failures were due to sources can release methane, a powerful internal corrosion in pipelines that carry greenhouse gas, and a number of noxious or produced water and multiphase pipelines potentially harmful gases, including VOCs and (pipelines that transmit both oil and gas); hydrogen sulphide. about two-thirds of the failures were in small- diameter gathering system pipelines.Leaks If monitored, pipeline failures can be detected accounted for 87 percent of the failures,and by pressure changes or flow imbalances. Some ruptures for 13 percent.Internal or external small and low-pressure gathering system corrosion was the cause of two-thirds of all pipelines and produced water pipelines may failures.Ninety-five percent of spills were of less not be continuously monitored. Some pinhole than 100 m3 of liquid or 100,000 m3 of gas. leaks are too small to be located by pressure
6 Report 98-G, Pipeline Performance in Alberta 1980–1997. Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, December 1998. 7 Statistical Series 57 — Field Surveillance April 1998/March 1999 — Provincial Summaries Alberta Energy and Utilities Board.
18 The Pembina Institute a sudden rupture, the volume of gas or liquid released depends on the length of pipeline between control valves and whether control valves are operated remotely by computer or by mobile field operators. Control valves operated remotely by computer can be shut off more quickly than those operated by workers who physically need to go out into the field. Spills caused by leaks from oil pipelines can release a large volume of VOC emissions. A fraction of the spilled oil evaporates a short time after it spills onto the surface. Burning off spills by deliberately igniting them releases a large volume of pollutants Flaring at a compressor station into the air. SOURCE: PEMBINA INSTITUTE Cumulative Impacts OIL & GAS DEVELOPMENT A single oil and gas project, including for example a well, a pipeline and a Oil and gas development in Alaska started in 1960 road, may by itself have only a small with one producing oil field. By 2001 oil development impact on the environment. However, consisted of 19 producing fields, 20 pads with in combination with other projects processing facilities, 115 pads with support facilities, that occur over time, the impacts 91 exploration sites, 13 off-shore exploration can become bigger and bigger. islands, 4 offshore production islands, 16 airstrips, Since many wells, roads and pipelines 1,395 culverts, 960 km of roads and permanent trails, will be needed over time to exploit 725 km of pipeline corridors, 353 km of transmission the large oil or gas reserves in the lines, and gravel mines affecting 2,600 ha.10 North, such cumulative impacts will likely be significant.
10 National Research Council of the National Academies, Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska’s North Slope. March 2003.
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 19 THERE IS STILL A LOT WE DON’T KNOW
There may be more environmental impacts several kilometres.Industrial structures on the associated with oil and gas development than tundra can be seen as far as 100 km away.More are described in this primer.There are many research is needed to learn about the impacts things we still do not know about the impact of of activities and structures, and the distances the oil and gas industry on the environment in over which the effects occur. Arctic Canada. Air Contamination and its Effects The Committee on Cumulative Environmental More research is needed to find out how much Effects of Alaskan North Slope Oil and Gas local emissions oil and gas facilities produce, Activities has identified several major and to determine ways that local and regional knowledge gaps in Alaska: 11 air masses and their contaminants interact. Need for Comprehensive Planning Seismic Exploration The government has typically decided who is and Other Off-Road Traffic given a permit to develop on a case-by-case, Studies are needed to determine the amount of individual application basis.There is not a snow cover and the depth of frost penetration comprehensive plan to identify the scope, into the soil that is required to adequately intensity, direction, or consequences of all protect the tundra from the effects of seismic industrial activities over time. exploration vehicles.We need more information Ecosystem-level Research on the effects of trails from off-road vehicles, Most ecological research in the Prudhoe Bay and how long these impacts last. region of Alaska has focused on local studies of Bowhead Whales the behaviour and population of animal Studies are needed to find out whether there is species.Long-term studies are needed to a relationship between noise generated by determine the impact of industrial activity on offshore oil and gas activity and the behaviour the productivity of tundra ecosystems. of bowhead whales. Human Health Effects Water Withdrawals There is not much information available on the In Alaska, developers that wish to extract water effect of oil and gas activities on human health. from fish bearing lakes in the winter time are More research is needed in this area. required to estimate the minimum water Zones of Influence volume of the lake and then take no more than The effects of industrial activities go beyond the 15% of that volume.This level was arbitrarily industrial sites themselves and even the set.Researchers need to find out whether this immediate area.Animals can be affected by level of water withdrawal actually protects fish gravel roads and well pads to a distance of and invertebrates.
11 National Research Council of the National Academies, Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska’s North Slope. March 2003. 20 The Pembina Institute Using the Best Practices Available 21 fragmentation disturbance and mortality of an accident or upset should use low-impactshould use construction techniques, at equipment and technology and air emissions,facilities that minimize as as well leaks and spills. stage of oil and gas exploration, this At also use best practices can regulators to of pipelines and the rapid growth prevent facilities.Theyassociated industry can require the use of existing infrastructure maximize to build new to companies allowing before impacts. additional facilities and create best practicesThe that are used during pipeline construction and operation are designed to • land disturbance and habitat minimize • soil compaction minimize and erosion • damage to riparian areas prevent • quality soil and water impacts avoid • direct minimize and indirect wildlife • air emissions minimize • leaks and spills minimize • in the event and public safety ensure worker • impacts fish and fish habitat to avoid particularThe of practices suite and measures a specific pipeline projectadopted for should reflect local circumstances. all of the best Not practices are below or measures listed in all cases. appropriate work is planned and carried out work standards used in the field that is used. Pipeline Construction and Operation: Construction Pipeline A Primer Using the Best Practices Available Best the Practices Using constructionPipeline involves and operation activities in some environmental that will result damage. can and developers Regulators by disruption of the environment minimize practices“best technologies”— and using the standards, effective most environmentally practices, been technologies that have and damage. environmental to minimize proven Overall, best practices aim to ensure community sustainability.When companies use best practices,“triple bottom line” they take a approach, considering the economic, environ- mental, and social impacts on the community of actionany they take. areas, In each of these practices design best and developers regulators well- the community’s damage to minimize to increase its viability. being and to In oil and gas development, three there are types of best practices: • the those that apply to the principles of how • to the practices refer those that and • do with the equipment to those that have With pipeline construction and operation, most choices that of the best practices to refer industry construction should make before starts. should select Companies the least of damaging configuration environmentally pipeline facilities and pipeline route.They Planning importance. Ideally, protected areas should be allowed to continue to function naturally and Integrated Land Use Planning without any disruption.They should be large Governments should carry out as much land enough to preserve existing natural use planning as possible before the oil and gas relationships and to allow these relationships development activity occurs. Governments to cycle and change according to natural should identify and map the areas that are forces, and without the impacts of industrial most important from an ecological and cultural development. perspective, as well as the important habitat Protected areas can serve as important regions areas and wildlife corridors that are needed to where regulators and developers can conduct connect protected areas together in a way that scientific research.They can compare the preserves the overall ecological integrity of the health of ecosystems in areas where oil and gas region. development has taken place with the health By designating regions as protected, regulators of ecosystems in protected areas where preserve wildlife habitat, sacred sites, areas of regulators have not allowed any development traditional use for travel, hunting and to occur. By using protected areas as gathering, burial grounds, and other sites of benchmarks, government and industry can also deep cultural significance. More work is needed evaluate the performance of measures that are to establish a network of protected areas that is used to mitigate impacts in areas where oil and representative of Canada’s natural regions. In gas development is allowed. 1992, federal, territorial and provincial Special Management Areas governments in Canada committed to a plan to establish a national network of terrestrial Besides establishing protected areas, another protected areas by 2000.The goal was not way governments can protect regions from the achieved. By 2000 only one-third of Canada’s impacts of oil and gas development is to set 486 terrestrial natural regions were adequately aside lands as “special management areas”— or moderately represented.12 areas where, temporarily, they will not allow any development to occur or where they will Protected Areas only allow certain types of development One way regulators can ensure they protect a activity.The Muskwa-Kechika area of North region from some of the impacts of oil and gas Eastern British Columbia is an example of a development is to designate a network of special management area. parcels of land as “protected areas.”These are Special management areas must be large areas that are of ecological, historical or cultural enough to preserve ecological integrity and to
12 World Wildlife Federation pamphlet, A Conservation Vision for the Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline: Balancing Nature and Industrial Development, July 2002. 22 The Pembina Institute THE MUSKWA-KECHIKA MANAGEMENT AREA
Muskwa-Kechika Management Area
SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (http://srmwwwlgov.bc.ca/rmd/rmp/mk/maps/general/mk-over.htm) Feb 2004
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area was industrial development. Resource development established in 1997. In 2001 it was enlarged to including oil and gas is allowed in the rest of encompass a total area of 6.4 million hectares. the management area in a manner that Over one million hectares of the total area are ensures protection of important wildlife and parks and are therefore excluded from environmental values in the area.13
13 Background on the Northern Rockies/Muskwa-Kechika, Canadian Parks and Wilderness, http://www.cpaws.org/northernrockies/background.html, August 2003.
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 23 support biodiversity.They can also act as laboratories for scientific inquiry. Similar to protected areas, special management areas can include areas that serve as “ecological benchmarks” against which industry can measure the success of its reclamation efforts in the parts of the region open to development. Many migratory bird species spend part of their life cycle in Canada’s North. To preserve SOURCE: KEN MADSEN. a healthy eco- system, special developers have finished their oil and gas management areas cannot exist by themselves. work in an area, they may do work to reclaim They must connect with other surrounding those areas, restoring as much as possible the areas that are also excluded from development, original ecological integrity and biodiversity. including undisturbed corridors that allow for When regulators deem the reclamation work wildlife to move and wander, and wetland to be successful, developers can then begin to migratory birds. develop areas originally set aside as reserves. Special management areas may have This approach ensures that a certain restrictions on the total amount of industrial percentage of the land at any given time activity that occurs at one time. Once is non-developed and functioning as a natural ecosystem.
24 The Pembina Institute PipelineLAND DesignUSE PLANNING IN THE and GWICH’IN Construction COMMUNITY Stages
In the Northwest Territories, residents of the Gwich’in First Nation Settlement Area developed a land use planning strategy. Out of this, the Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board issued a land use plan in 1999 entitled Nanh’ Geenjit Gwitr’it T’Igwaa’in (Working for the Land). Under this plan, the government divided the entire Gwich’in Settlement Area into three zones: protected areas, special management areas, and general use areas.
Protected Areas SOURCE: NORTH YUKON RENEWABLE RESOURCE COUNCIL Of the whole settlement region, the Gwich’in have set aside about 10% of the land as protected areas. In Gwich’in Settlement Areas, the traditional knowledge and experience on the land of residents and communities were a key factor in the land use planning process. The Land Use Planning Board has identified four types of Gwich’in Protected Areas in the land use plan: • core areas communities would like to see protected based on a variety of values ranging from current and historical use,
heritage resources, wildlife, fish, forests, SOURCE: NORTH YUKON RENEWABLE RESOURCE COUNCIL vegetation and water resources; • core areas the scientific community would • five out of the six ecoregions of the Gwich’in like to see protected based on critical wildlife Settlement Area; and habitat and populations, outstanding • areas that do not unreasonably limit the heritage sites, unique land features and ability of resource development to occur in ecological processes; the Gwich’in Settlement Area.
CONTINUED
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 25 LAND USE PLANNING IN THE GWICH’IN COMMUNITY
As well as these four types of areas, there are General Use Area also another 13 smaller Gwich’in Heritage Of the whole settlement region, the Gwich’in Areas.These are areas of outstanding historical have set aside about 57% of the land as or cultural significance in the Gwich’in general use areas.These are areas that Settlement Area.These areas have the same communities and other groups decided did not status as Gwich’in Conservation Areas.The contain any specific resources needing special Gwich’in identified these areas through protection beyond what is available through community consultation and with the help of the normal regulatory system. the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute. Within the Gwich’in Settlement Area, all groups, Special Management Areas including the Gwich’in, federal government, Of the whole settlement region,the Gwich’in territorial government, co-management boards have set aside about 33% of the land as special and business groups, must conform to the management areas.These are areas of special regulations Land Use Plan once it is approved. value to residents and communities of the Regulators, like the Gwich’in Land and Water Gwich’in Settlement Area where multiple uses Board,cannot issue a licence,permit or authoriz- may take place, provided potential developers ation until developers show that their proposed meet the land use planning conditions of the activities conform to the Land Use Plan. particular Gwich’in Special Management Area.
A variety of best practices can help reduce the under river crossings to facilitate future overall impact of pipelines at the design and expansion without having to conduct another construction stages: river crossing, and designing future capacity • Design pipelines as close as possible to the into a gathering system pipeline by installing anticipated capacity needed for full more compression at an existing site. development of oil and gas reserves in an • Work cooperatively with other companies to area.The numberof pipelines constructed in coordinate the routes and the sizes of the an area can often increase quickly due to pipelines that are developed in an area competition and insufficient design capacity instead of designing pipelines that meet the for future development. needs of individual companies only. • Design pipelines so they can be expanded • Use existing rights-of-way (e.g., pipelines, with minimal impact. Examples include roads) or other cleared areas (e.g., seismic placing a second pipeline (called looping) lines, cutlines, cut-blocks), where possible.
26 The Pembina Institute LAND USE PLANNING • Reduce the width of rights-of-way and IN THE DEH CHO COMMUNITY working space during construction. • Route pipeline rights-of-way to avoid In April 2003 the Deh Cho First Nations and the sensitive or protected areas. Government of Canada announced that, for a five-year period as part of a longer-term land use planning process, it • Construct when the ground is frozen to had formally withdrawn from development land totalling minimize vegetation damage. 10.1 million hectares14 of northern boreal forest and • Bore under sensitive river and stream wetland habitat in the Mackenzie Valley.15 The temporary crossings, and consider boring set aside of land in advance of proposed construction of a underneath sensitive ecosystems. major natural gas pipeline along the Mackenzie Valley will • Introduce slight “bends”in the rights-of- allow the community to complete a Deh Cho land use plan. The plan will define how land will be managed in the Deh way to interrupt long line-of-sight 16 impacts for both below-ground and Cho territory. aboveground pipelines (e.g., 5–10 No development at all will be allowed on some of the lands degree bends every 500–700 m). withdrawn. In other cases only sub-surface development, • Schedule construction to avoid such as oil and gas extraction, is excluded. sensitive periods of wildlife activity The land withdrawals process included consultations with (such as mating season for sensitive Deh Cho community members, as well as third parties who species). have interests in the region like mining companies, oil and • Be prepared to handle archaeological gas companies, and environmental groups.The decision to finds. withdraw portions of the Deh Cho lands took account of the following criteria: • Provide environmental training for all on-site construction staff and • Lands harvested for food and medicinal purposes contractors. • Culturally and spiritually significant lands • Lands that are ecologically sensitive • Maintain vegetation on stream banks • Watershed protection. where subsequent grading and ditching is not required. • Avoid felling cleared trees into adjacent • Bore below steep slopes to avoid erosion. forested areas or water bodies. Felled trees • Schedule blasting to minimize impacts on can be lain down on the ground to stabilize wildlife. soil and prevent erosion in sloped areas. • Clean up all construction debris and
14 The Deh Cho region of the Northwest Territories encompasses 20.8 million hectares. 15 Gift to the Earth #84,World Wildlife Fund, 17 April, 2003. 16 Backgrounder. Deh Cho Process – Interim Land Withdrawals, www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/prs/j-a2003/02287bbk_e.html, April 17, 2003. Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 27 temporary structures (e.g., gates, areas. bridges), and dispose of the debris Permanent properly.The goal is to leave the area Road Access as close to its pre-development condition as is possible. Companies should use remote • Block off access points by replanting computer trees, or constructing rollback systems, such as windrows, earthen berms, slash piles, Supervisory or fences. Control and Data Low-Impact Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Access Techniques to operate valves, Temporary Road Access and compressor and pumping Pipeline construction crews need stations along vehicle access to the pipeline right-of- pipelines to way during the site-clearing stage. reduce the need They also need access to the locations Grizzly Bear. for year-round along the right-of-way where SOURCE: CPAWS YUKON CHAPTER surface access to segments of pipe are being welded pipelines. Such together and buried (in the case of computer systems buried pipelines) or mounted on platforms (in also reduce the need to build numerous the case of aboveground pipelines). Companies permanent roads to a pipeline. Companies can should use low-impact access techniques to also avoid building permanent roads by using reduce the land disturbance associated with high-tech leak detection and leak monitoring roads. Forexample, crews can create temporary systems, and small all-terrain vehicles and winter access roads only, and, whenever helicopters to do visual inspections and on-site possible, use existing rights-of-way, cutlines, maintenance. Fewer permanent roads also and so on.Temporary compacted snow or ice means less need for extracting and transporting roads minimize surface impacts and are gravel to build the roads. In turn, there is less especially important in areas of the North need to spray pesticides at road approaches. where there are sensitive vegetation and permafrost soils. As well, using previously disturbed areas, such as rights-of-way and cutlines, will prevent further damage to these
28 The Pembina Institute Operation Technology (the hole that is created by drilling) and by Production sites (pipeline valve stations, observing the river for siltation. compressors, pumping stations, wells, etc.) can Many companies now drill water crossings be operated remotely using cellular, radio, or below the riverbed to avoid delays caused by satellite SCADA technology. Remote operation the timing of fish spawning/over-wintering and technology minimizes the need for personnel to the time required to obtain regulatory approval visit sites and reduces stress on wildlife. SCADA for in-stream work. systems allow operators located at central ARCO Alaska Inc.’s Alpine field designed a 1.2 facilities (e.g., gas plants) to control by computer kilometre-wide pipeline crossing the Colville the wells and pipelines that are connected to River to use a horizontal directionally drilled the facility. If major maintenance is required on tunnel 30 metres below the riverbed so as to a particular part of a pipeline, it can be done not disturb river ecology.17 The Alliance Pipeline, using low-impact vehicles or helicopters, or it which carries gas from Northeast British can be planned for the winter months when Columbia to the city of Chicago, US, has used access roads along the right-of-way can be this technology to cross several major river constructed with minimal surface impact. systems (Peace, South Saskatchewan, Battle, Low-impact Water Crossings Mississippi, and Des Plaines rivers). Trenchless water-crossing techniques (horizontal directional drilling, punch/ram, boring) are preferable to in-stream work. Improved technology and experience in directional drilling of pipelines underneath watercourses has reduced the risk and cost associated with this activity. Crews should leave a buffer of riverbank and natural vegetation between the drilling location and the stream or river to prevent erosion, wildlife reduction, and visual impacts associated with trenchless techniques. Crews can minimize the release of mud into the river from drilling below the riverbed by carefully monitoring the pressure SOURCE: CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY – YUKON CHAPTER and volume of drilling mud in the well bore
17 U.S. Department of Energy Comments to the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior on the Northeast National Petroleum Reserve — Alaska Draft Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, March 12, 1998. Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 29 The Canadian Pipeline Water Crossing Committee, Clearing a committee of government, industry, and • postpone and minimize clearing to prevent environmental stakeholders, released a report erosion entitled “Water Crossings”(Second Edition). • use uncleared buffer zones Chapter 7 of the report deals with reducing the environmental impacts associated with pipeline • use tracked vehicles on slopes to prevent water crossings. Examples of best practices, damage which apply to more than just water crossings, • retain timber for riprap, log-fill crossings, and include the following: 18, 19 temporary bridges if needed General • estrict grubbing in wetlands to avoid creation of bog holes • schedule construction during periods of lowest sensitivity Topsoil Handling • prepare spill, erosion, and flooding • strip topsoil under dry conditions from all contingency plans areas to be graded or used for soil storage • keep fuels and waste well back from water • postpone stripping of approach slopes, body to prevent spills or contamination floodplains, and banks • prevent introduction of noxious weeds • stockpile topsoil above the high water mark • implement erosion control measures in and stabilize with vegetation if piles are to be advance of activity left for more than one season Surveying Grading • avoid environmentally or culturally significant • grade snow to prevent erosion and runoff of areas dirty water into water courses • ensure sufficient workspace on approach • minimize grading on steep slopes slopes • avoid blocking channels • minimize staging area needed • minimize total area graded • mark or flag sensitive areas within Welding and Weighting disturbance area • assemble pipeline and complete welding, coating, testing, and weighting of the pipe in an upland area before trenching begins to minimize stream impacts
18 Watercourse Crossings, 2nd Edition, Canadian Pipeline Water Crossing Committee, November 1999. 19 Cott, P.A and J.P.Moore. April 2003.Working Near Water: Considerations for Fish and Fish Habitat, Reference and Workshop Manual. Northwest Territories, Department of Fisheries and Oceans – Western Arctic Area. 30 The Pembina Institute In-stream Blasting • install temporary silt fences near the base • use controlled and less destructive means of of slopes removing bedrock, such as ripping or breaking • re-vegetate disturbed areas as soon as • avoid the use of ammonium nitrate-based possible, and transplant native shrubs and explosives small trees Pipe Installation Clean-up and Reclamation • stop trenching activity short of watercourse • clean up immediately following backfill and leave trench plugs in place during • remove crossing structures prior to freeze up watercourse crossing to prevent silty trench if possible water from entering the watercourse • re-grade to pre-construction profile • contain runoff and trench de-watering fluids Aquatic Habitat Restoration and in a storage pond to prevent them from Enhancement entering the watercourse • avoid important habitat areas • minimize in-stream activity • use non-instream crossing methods • install spare pipelines to prevent the need for • time activity to minimize aquatic impacts future in-stream pipeline construction activity • restore habitat as quickly as possible • stop activities if excess sedimentation occurs • maintain fish passage during instream In-stream Sediment Control construction activities • use in-stream sediment filtering techniques • monitor site to ensure successful restoration • minimize the disturbance of stream bed Bank and Riparian Habitat Restoration material and banks and Enhancement • ensure that no deleterious materials (i.e., • select work locations that minimize bank sediment) are released into the watercourse impacts Backfilling • set activity back from watercourse edge • backfill from the centre to the sides • leave buffers in place • ensure backfill is well compacted • minimize space used in bank areas Surface Erosion and Sediment Control • restore habitat as quickly as possible using • ensure that ditches do not drain directly into native plant species a watercourse • monitor site to ensure successful restoration
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 31 Preventing, Detecting, and Emergency Shutdown (ESD) Valves — ESD Handling Spills and Leaks valves are installed along a pipeline and are activated in the event of a leak.The distance Spill Prevention between the valves and the speed at which Corrosion Control — Corrosion (internal and they are closed control the amount of content external) is the greatest source of pipeline leaked, especially in the event of a rupture. leaks. Companies can minimize, control, and Proper Signage and First Call Program — In monitor corrosion in pipelines by properly Alberta, eight percent of pipeline leaks are due selecting pipe material and putting in place a to mechanical damage by equipment (e.g., corrosion control program that uses corrosion backhoe, trencher) used by non-pipeline inhibitors, cathodic protection, and “smart workers. Many of these leaks could have been pigging.”Companies can also design and avoided if the equipment operator had known operate pipelines so that corrosive liquids do about the pipeline (i.e., if there had been clear not build up in low spots along the line and signage with an emergency contact number at pipeline velocities are not so great as to cause all road crossings, river crossings, and other erosion. Companies should review the pipeline crossings and facilities). A “First Call”or effectiveness of their corrosion control program each year. Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) — The 1996 recommendations from the SCC Inquiry Panel to the National Energy Board included industry- wide implementation of SCC management programs, development of an industry SCC database, and mandatory monitoring of pipelines that are atrisk of SCC.The panel also called for improved pipeline design standards. Specifically, it recommended that all new pipelines should be designed to allow the passage of in-line inspection tools, and that there should be better information sharing, more research into best practices, and better emergency response planning.20 Workers examine the integrity of a pipeline at a gas plant.
A definitive method of preventing SCC has not SOURCE: BALLYMAC HOLDINGS LTD. been found.
20 Stress Corrosion Cracking on Canadian Oil and Gas Pipelines, National Energy Board, December 1996, www.neb.gc.ca/safety/scc.htm. 32 The Pembina Institute “Call Before You Dig”program run by the THE MACKENZIE DELTA government or a third party is an excellent way SPILL RESPONSE of ensuring pipelines are not mechanically CORPORATION damaged. EnCana, Anadarko, Devon, BP,Chevron, Overpressure Protection — Between 1980 and Petro-Canada, and Shell joined together in 1997, 353 pipeline failures in Alberta were 2001 to form the Mackenzie Delta Spill attributed to excessive pressures inside Response Corporation.The group’s mission is thepipeline.21 Gathering system pipelines can “to provide a safe, rapid, and effective be designed to ensure that the oil or gas wells response to oil spills in the Mackenzie Delta. that feed into them don’t create an The goal is to provide for worker safety and overpressure situation. As well, transmission environmental protection in the advent of a system pipelines can be designed to withstand spill or release.” 22 the maximum operating pressure of the pipeline compressors. and gas transmission system pipelines. Spill Detection and Response Not all leaks can be detected by pipeline Leaks from pipelines can cause considerable pressure changes or volume losses.Therefore, environmental damage, especially if a spill operators carry out routine pipeline rights-of- occurs in a watercourse. way inspections by air and on the ground. Pipeline balancing can detect pipeline failures Operators use portable spill response kits to and most leaks. Pipeline balancing involves respond quickly to incidents of pipeline leaks. measuring and comparing the pressure and Most companies have complete spill response volume of gas or oil where it flows into a teams and equipment in the event of a major pipeline with the pressure of gas or oil where it spill. In areas with many pipeline flows out of the pipeline. If there is a difference developments, companies commonly form spill between the inflow and the outflow, it may cooperatives and design plans to share mean that there is a leak; in this case, an alarm resources in case of a spill. Having spill goes off and the pipeline is shut down. Pipeline response equipment in place at strategic balancing could also be used on gathering locations on pipeline routes before spills system pipelines, especially for large pipelines happen (especially at river crossings) can that carry sour gas (oil or gas containing minimize the time needed to respond to a hydrogen sulphide) and pipelines in sensitive pipeline leak and reduce the impact on the areas. Pipeline balancing is regularly used on oil land and on water bodies.
21 Pipeline Performance in Alberta 1980–1997, Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, December 1998. 22 http://www.deltaspillresponse.org/Site/home.asp (July 2003).
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 33 In 1997, a Government/Industry North Slope contamination risk. If pipeline contents spill Response Project Team was established in or leak into the water, they can kill fish and Alaska to evaluate spill response planning and vegetation, and create long-term damage to preparedness for oil spills under every possible the environment. A double-walled pipeline combination of environmental conditions for can contain and direct spilled fluids away onshore and offshore development.The from the water-crossing area, preventing scenarios were used to identify additional substances from entering the water. equipment needed for the Alaska Clean Seas Pipeline Abandonment program inventory and to develop a technical spill response plan manual.23 Pipelines that are no longer useful can be depressurized, purged, cleaned, and possibly filled Double-Walled Pipelines with inert gas to prevent corrosion and leaks. Double-walled pipelines consist of a pipeline within a larger pipe.The outside pipe captures Minimizing Air Emissions any fluid that escapes from the inside pipeline. Double-walled pipelines are used when the Maintenance Venting and Flaring consequences of a leak, including a non- All pipelines need to be depressurized at some detected pinhole leak, would be very serious. point so that operators can maintain or repair Examples of double-walled pipelines include them.When operators depressurize pipelines the following: that carry liquids, they should pump the lines • Acid Gas Disposal Pipeline — This pipeline as dry as possible and direct any remaining connects a sweetening facility (where liquid into tanks rather than pits to reduce hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide are environmental impacts.When operators extracted from sour gas to create a highly depressurize pipelines that carry gas, they concentrated “acid gas”) and a disposal well should decompress the lines (using field (where the acid gas is deep-well injected). compressors, plant compressors, or portable Hydrogen sulphide gas is extremely toxic. A “pull down or transfer”compressors) and direct double-walled pipeline can monitor pressure any remaining gas into an incinerator or a flare and hydrogen sulphide, detect leaks very rather than vent it into the air. quickly, and direct leaked gas in the outside The need to blowdown pipelines can be pipe to a flare that will burn it off. reduced by using new techniques that allow • Oil/Liquid River Crossing Pipeline — industry to cut holes into a pipeline to connect An aboveground or buried pipeline that new branch lines and to conduct repairs while crosses a stream or river represents a the pipeline is in operation.These new
23 BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., Environmental Performance on Alaska’s North Slope, February 1998. 34 The Pembina Institute techniques are called “buttering”and “hot Reducing Emissions from tapping.”The key to the procedure is to ensure Operating Equipment that no oxygen is allowed to enter into the Operators can reduce noise, and emissions of cutting area so that the natural gas in the nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gases by using 24 pipeline cannot ignite. electric-powered variable frequency drives Coordination of Pipeline Outages (VFDs) to cool fans for compressor engines, Outages, or shut-downs of segments of amine regenerators, and other equipment.VFDs pipelines, are needed to allow for activities such can turn down cooling fans when ambient air as cleaning, testing, repairing, and tying in new temperature conditions are low (i.e., at night pipelines.To perform an outage, a section of time and during the winter) rather than have pipeline is isolated and purged of gas. them run at a constant rate.VFDs can also be Minimizing outages by coordinating multiple installed on mainline pumping units. activities into a single outage reduces cost and Reducing Emissions by Improving Efficiency emissions associated with purging the line. Companies can minimize greenhouse gas TransCanada uses an Outage Decision Model to emissions by using the most energy efficient reduce the occurrence of outages and the engines for compressors and pumps that are 25 quantity of gas vented to the air. available today. Companies can reduce Remote Shutdown Capability of Gas greenhouse gas emissions by retiring older, less Gathering Systems and Operating Wells When a gas pipeline is unexpectedly shut down, the gas from processing facilities and wells must be shut off or directed to a flare to avoid explosion hazards or the release of sour gas in the case of pipelines containing sour gas. The volume of gas released and the duration of flaring can be reduced by using SCADA or a comparable centralized control system, which allows an operator to remotely shut down individual wells and facilities or the entire producing field.
Close up of a flare
SOURCE: PEMBINA INSTITUTE
24 TransCanada’s 2002 Submission to the Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry. 25 TransCanada’s 2002 Submission to the Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry. Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 35 efficient engines and replacing them with quickly. Plant turnarounds, scheduled facility modern engines. shut-downs for major upgrading or plant-wide Leak Detection and Repair maintenance, are a key opportunity to schedule such repairs. All pipe connections and processing plant components leak to some degree. Companies Some of the technologies available to reduce can minimize fugitive emissions (emissions that fugitive emissions from wells and facilities are escape) by designing facilities with the fewest described in the 1993 report entitled “Options possible components and connections, and for Reducing Methane and VOC Emissions from avoiding components known to cause Upstream Oil and Gas Operations”by the significant fugitive emissions. Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Leak detection and repair (LDR) program Industry Best Practice Commitment to operators perform routine preventative Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions maintenance on equipment that is known to The Kyoto Protocol, ratified by Canada in leak, and physically check equipment for December 2002, requires a reduction in methane emissions and repairs. An effective Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions to 6% leak detection program requires regular and below the 1990 level during 2008–2012. In ongoing inspection by operators.To detect gas 2001, industrial facilities, including electricity in the air, operators can use hand-held devices. generation, accounted for 53% of Canada’s One of the simplest methods to pin-point a greenhouse gas emissions.26 leak in a pipeline is to apply a soap and water Oil and gas companies and jurisdictions within solution to fittings and valves where leaks Canada should develop and carry out usually occur and watch for bubbles. Operators greenhouse gas management plans to can also use the latest hand-held devices, such minimize the cost of complying with Kyoto and as high-flow samplers, to quantify sweet gas with subsequent emission reduction fugitive emissions. requirements. Such plans should include ways By measuring their fugitive air emissions, to reduce emissions through internal energy companies can design the most effective leak efficiency, investments in offsets and “green repair program for their facilities and provide power,”and a commitment to limiting absolute realistic estimates of their greenhouse gas volumes of emissions. One company, BP,has set emissions to the government. The best LDR a goal to maintain its greenhouse gases programs use low-methane measurement emissions at 10 percent below its 1990 baseline thresholds to determine when a repair is level until the year 2012.27 needed and to ensure leaks are repaired
26 Environment Canada, Greenhouse Gas Emission Summary, http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/ghg/canada_2001_e.cfm (July 2003) 27 BP - www.bp.com/environ_social/environment/clim_change/position.asp (July 2003) 36 The Pembina Institute Area of Concern Best Practice Comprehensive land • Exclude oil and gas activity in areas that are of special ecological, historical use planning after or cultural importance. subsurface rights are • Create special management area rules to govern oil and gas activity in granted to industry ecologically important areas.
Rapid growth of • Design pipelines for the capacity needed for full development of oil and pipelines gas reserves in an area.
Land disturbances • Use existing rights-of-way (e.g., pipelines, roads) or other cleared areas (e.g., seismic lines, cutlines, cut-blocks) where possible. • Introduce slight “bends”in the corridor to interrupt long line-of-sight impacts (e.g., 5–10 degree bends every 500–700 m).
Construction-related • Reduce the width of rights-of-way and working space during impacts construction. Route pipeline corridors to avoid sensitive or protected areas. • Construct in frozen-ground conditions to minimize damage to vegetation. • Bore under all sensitive river and stream crossings and consider boring underneath sensitive ecosystems. • Schedule construction to avoid sensitive periods of wildlife activities (such as rutting season). • Clean up all construction debris and temporary structures (e.g., gates, bridges), and dispose of debris properly. • Use pre-development conditions as a basis for post-development conditions.
Increased access • Limit road access to the pipeline right-of-way. • Avoid new roads or access points as much as possible. • Construct low-impact temporary roads that can be rapidly reclaimed by the land.
Permanent • Improve leak detection and use low-impact maintenance techniques, such road access as quads and helicopters, to avoid the need for permanent access roads and cleared rights-of-way.
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 37 Area of Concern Best Practice Water-crossing • Use trenchless water crossing techniques (i.e., horizontal directional impacts to riverbanks drilling, punch/ram, boring) to avoid impact on riverbanks and riverbeds. and riverbeds • Leave a buffer of riverbank and natural vegetation between the locan and the stream or river to prevent erosion and reduce wildlife and visual impacts associated with trenchless methods. • Use impact mitigation measures when drilling under the watercourse is not possible.
Wildlife disruption • Operate production sites (pipeline valve stations, compressors, pump stations, wells, etc.) remotely using cellular, radio, or satellite Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems to minimize the need for personnel to visit sites, thereby reducing stress on wildlife.
Pipeline maintenance • If major maintenance is required on a particular part of a pipeline, use impacts low-impact vehicles or heli-support, or plan it for the winter months when low-impact snow or ice access roads along the right-of-way can be constructed.
Spills and leaks • Implement any of the following to avoid spills: - Corrosion control - Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) - Emergency shutdown valves (ESV) • Overpressure protection • Proper signage and first call system • Inspect pipeline rights-of-way regularly using a combination of inspections by air and ground.These inspections might be as often as once a week for high-risk operations. • Balance pipelines. • Reduce impacts caused by spills by implementing spill response planning, and multi-company spill cooperatives.
38 The Pembina Institute Area of Concern Best Practice Maintenance venting • Liquid pipelines — Depressurize and drain residual liquids into tanks and flaring rather than into open pits. • Gas pipelines — Decompress to as low a pressure as possible using field compressors, plant compressors, or even portable “transfer”compressors. After the pressure has been reduced, direct residual gas to an incinerator or a flare rather than venting it into the air.
Coordination of • Coordinate maintenance and construction work within the overall pipeline outages pipeline system to help reduce unnecessary emissions associated with purging the line. For example, tie-ins of new gas pipelines, cleaning, and testing could all be scheduled and take place in the same area during the same time period. • Centralize control of gas fields using a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) or comparable system that allows an operator to respond quickly to an unplanned pipeline disruption by shutting down facilities and wells, and thus minimize the duration of flaring incidents
Leaks in • Use double-walled pipelines in areas where the consequences of a leak, sensitive areas including a non-detected pinhole leak, can be very serious (e.g., Acid Gas Disposal pipelines and Oil/Liquid River Crossing pipelines).
Greenhouse gas • Use electric-powered variable frequency drives (VFDs) to cool fans for emissions compressor engines, amine regenerators, and other equipment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Pipeline • To avoid potential corrosion and leaks, depressurize, purge, clean, and abandonment possibly fill with an inert gas those pipelines that are no longer useful.
Leak detection • Use handheld devices to detect and quantify leaks. and repair • Repair leaks in a timely manner.
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 39 40 Citizens’ Rights writing. Most companies willbeinterested Most in writing. by phoneorin –inperson, directly agency the company and/or appropriate regulatory comments orconcerns to your questions, direct you should permits andlicencesto operate, andhasbeengranted that isinproduction youIf have concernsaboutapipelineproject Yukonrespectively. Territory Development andOilGas Rights Citizens’ Territories Northwest and Development: andOilGas Rights inCitizens’ NWT procedures for eachregionofthe Yukon and can findmoredetailsaboutthelaws and can alsovary.You opportunities intervention about publicconsultationand rules region toregionwithineachterritory.The andfrom andthe between theNWT Yukon, these rightsandpermitslicencesvaries way companiesget them to dothework.The licence fromthegovernment thatwillallow companies have to getapermitor facilities, To andoperate pipelines andrelated construct process whenapproving suchaproject. have asay inthegovernment’s decision-making alsogives adviceon how to It pipeline project. summarizes issuesassociated thekey with a explainshow you cangetinformationIt and information andadviceonhow togoaboutit. gives you thissection approvaltory process, intheregula- that you may part wanttotake andthink andoperation project construction youIf areconcernedaboutapipeline Rights Citizens’ contact the company directly andaskfor thecompany a directly contact proposed pipelineandrelated facilities isto Another way togetinformation about a approvals process. timelines for publiccommentontheregulatory operation proposalsandinformation about and notice ofnewpipelineconstruction willreceive development inyour region.You responsiblefor oilandgas agency government theprimary contacting party”by You canregisteryourself asan “interested government offices. available for publicviewingatlibrariesand Companies may alsoarrange for copiestobe andinterested parties. First Nations, agencies, and licenceapplicationstogovernment Companies sendcopiesofpipelineproposals facilities. andoperate pipelinesandrelatedto construct whatproposalstherearefor companies know The firstthingyou sureyou need to doismake Find outaboutProposed Projects approvals: government that alreadyhasthenecessary you areconcernedaboutapipelineproject orif requires agovernment approval orlicence, that review andcommentonapipelineproject Here aresomestepstofollow ifyou wishto has alreadyreceived government approvals. addressing publicconcernseven iftheproject The Pembina Institute copy of detailed proposals or licence • What do government agencies do with applications, as well as information about public comments and concerns they receive? future development plans. • What happens if the public objects to or A company planning to conduct oil or gas wants conditions attached to the approval, processing (the proponent) must give public licence or permit? notice of their plans before they receive • What is the process for deciding whether and regulatory approval. Notice requirements vary how the project will proceed? from region to region. Sometimes companies • Is it possible to call for a public hearing, if will post notices in local newspapers or other needed? media to announce proposed projects; other • How can the public find out whether the times you may have to be more active to government has granted a drilling approval, ensure you are aware of new proposals. licence or permit? Learn about Public • How can the public get a copy of approvals, licences or permits? Consultation Rules • Can the public appeal an approval, licence or Next, you need to find out the rules for public permit? If so, how? consultation in your area. Review the Pipeline Construction Contact the primary government agency responsible for oil and gas development in and Operation Application your region and get answers to the following Once you’ve received a copy of a company’s questions: proposal for a pipeline project, and have • What does the company have to do to give learned about the rules for public consultation, notice of their proposed project? Who do you’ll next want to review the project they have to consult? What form does the application. consultation have to take (meetings, open When you review the application you may find houses, etc.)? that you are satisfied with the information • What does the company have to do with the presented or you may have questions or public comments they receive? concerns about the project. • What is the deadline for public comments? If you have questions or concerns, make of list • To what government agency approving of these and call a meeting with the company bodies does the company have to send and/or proper government agency to discuss public comments? them (see box next page: How to negotiate with companies).
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 41 If you can’t resolve your concerns about the Key questions to ask when reviewing a project directly with the company or government pipeline project operation permit or licence agency you may wish to call for a public hearing application (note that this is a general list and (see section on page 45: Participate in Decision only a subset will be applicable to specific Making) if such a legal avenue is available. licence and permit applications):
HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITH COMPANIES
Most companies have experience dealing ❑ Don’t make a deal with the company directly with members of the public who have wherein they only agree to deal with your questions and concerns about oil and gas issues of concern if you agree to not take projects.They usually welcome opportunities part in a hearing. Sometimes it is not to meet with interested parties, to provide possible for you and the company to information and to try to resolve issues outside resolve all of the issues. But, if a public of formal regulatory decision-making forums. hearing is held, it will be shorter and more When involved in discussions with a company, focused if you have resolved as many of make sure you the issues as possible. A shorter, more focused hearing is to the benefit of all ❑ Get everything in writing. If you have an parties involved. oral agreement or telephone conversation ❑ with a company representative, ask him or Recognize that some “give and take” may her to confirm it in writing and to send be necessary. For successful negotiation, copies to the proper government agencies. both parties must be able to reach their final objectives and be willing to agree ❑ Ask the company to explain anything you with the other. do not understand. If some of the written ❑ information the company has provided is Negotiations can take a long time. ambiguous, ask for clarification in writing. Often members need a lot of time to both review and write documents.Therefore, it ❑ Tell the company any concerns you have is important to research opportunities for about the project. Suggest ways they intervener funding. It may be reasonable could change the project to address your to ask the company for funding to make concerns. Be persistent if the company sure that members of the public can does not adequately resolve your concerns be more effectively engaged in the right away. consultation.
42 The Pembina Institute ❑ How long is the pipeline the developer is ❑ What permafrost protection measures will proposing? How big is the diameter? they use? ❑ What type of oil or gas will the pipeline ❑ What reclamation practices will they use carry? and will they monitor reclamation success ❑ Does the developer have an Emergency over time? Response Plan? How big is the evacuation ❑ Will crews have to cross water bodies? How zone? will they do this? Where will they locate the ❑ How wide is the right-of-way? How much water crossings? vegetation must crews clear to create the ❑ How will crews manage and dispose of right-of-way? waste? ❑ How much road access will crews have to ❑ How often will crews visually check the line create and how will they create it? Will the for leaks? access they create be temporary or ❑ Will the company use a centralized control permanent? system to control the pipeline and any wells ❑ How will crews manage and reclaim that are connected to the pipeline? access routes? ❑ How many pumping and compression ❑ Has they company assessed sensitive facilities are needed, where will they be ecosystems within the project area? located and what are the air emissions? ❑ Will the company erect a camp for the ❑ Will the company have a wildlife monitor? project? For what time frame? Where will ❑ Has the company clearly outlined measures they locate it? How big will it be? to avoid disturbing wildlife? Does the ❑ In what season will construction of the company have policies to ensure workers project occur? know how to minimize impacts on wildlife? ❑ Will crews use temporary snow and ice ❑ Has the developer assessed socio-economic roads to transport heavy equipment and benefits (e.g., employment of local materials? residents) and impacts associated with the ❑ How will they protect the soil and proposed project? vegetative mat? ❑ Has the company identified ways they will ❑ What erosion mitigation measures will mitigate possible effects on other land uses such as trap lines, as well as on areas of they use? cultural significance?
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 43 WORKING WITH THE MEDIA
Using the media to raise public awareness ❑ Decide on your main message and state about an issue is not always appropriate. this clearly in the first sentence. Under some circumstances, however, it can be ❑ Include a brief outline of your key concerns an important tool: and the outcome you want. ❑ It can make other members of the public ❑ Include one or more contact names and aware of the proposed project and your numbers. concerns.This can help build support for your activities and increase your chances ❑ Put a short title at the top of the release — of success in negotiating with the something eye-catching. Put the date at company. the top as well. ❑ It can encourage a company to negotiate. ❑ Keep the release short — less than a page. Many companies worry about their public You may want to include quotes and image and would like to avoid negative position statements. publicity. Real or potential media attention ❑ Consider including a separate on an issue may be an incentive for a “backgrounder piece.” A backgrounder company to try to resolve issues. gives only factual information on the ❑ It may ensure the government agencies subject, rather than opinions. are aware of and involved in your issue. ❑ Make sure you are aware of the deadline Media include: for making submissions to the media. ❑ local, regional and national newspapers ❑ When your news release is ready, you ❑ local and regional radio stations should fax or deliver it to your local and regional newspapers, radio and television ❑ community and regional television stations. Follow up with phone calls to stations select media contacts. If you have a message to get out, sending ❑ Send a copy of your news release to both out a news release can be helpful. It does the company and the proper government not have to be long, but you need to consider agency.This will allow them to be better the following: prepared to respond to the media if they know in advance what you are saying.
44 The Pembina Institute Participate in Decision Making Oil and Gas Development:Yukon Territory. These guides include government agency If you meet with the company and government contacts that you can call to get more agencies directly and find you can’t resolve information about how governments conduct your concerns about the project, you may wish hearings and the specific rules for members of to call for a public hearing. the public to call for and participate in Public hearings are meetings held to get hearings. comments from the general public, businesses, You’ll want to find out: special interest groups, and local officials about ❑ proposed regulations, permits, or other When are the deadlines for letters calling for changes that could affect the public. hearings and for written and oral submissions? You’ll need to find out the rules for holding ❑ public hearings in your region, whether such a Who has intervener status—that is, the legal legal avenue is available for commenting on right to call for a hearing? pipeline projects and what the terms are.You ❑ Is there funding available for interveners to can find more details about public hire experts, including lawyers? participation in regulatory decision making in ❑ Citizens’ Rights and Oil and Gas Development: What are the hearing procedures? Northwest Territories and Citizens’ Rights and ❑ Are there any appeal mechanisms?
Pipeline Construction and Operation: A Primer 45 46 For More Information publication entitled: pleaseconsultthecompanion this issue, reading on andfurther associations, industry For information ongovernment agencies, For More Information Resources andContacts . The Pembina Institute A PRIMER Environment & Energy in the NorthEnvironment & Energy Exploration Seismic Pembina PI Seismic COVER 6/18/04 1:06 PM Page 1 Page PM 1:06 6/18/04 COVER Seismic PI