Let's Talk Pipelines
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LET’S TALK PIPELINES REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CANADA’S ENERGY INDUSTRY CEPA I 1 Valerie Roy is the WHAT HAPPENS CEO of the Atlantic WHEN THESE Hydroelectricity Chamber of Commerce IMPORTANT and a member of CONVERSATIONS 2006/2015: CEPA’s External DON’T HAPPEN? Advisory Panel (EAP). When there isn’t As an EAP member, consultation, what we 25.3/26.3% she listens to what have is we have ‘no.’ people in her area We don’t have ‘maybe,’ think about pipeline we don’t have ‘let’s Coal projects and shares work together and insights with the collaborate to address 2006/2015: pipeline industry. the issue,’ people just say no. And if there’s too much opposition, 9.6/6.0% Q&A WITH the government WHAT DOES will eventually just Nuclear VALERIE say no as well. ROY: Pipelines are important 2006/2015: OUR ENERGY to the Canadian WHAT ARE YOU economy as trade- HEARING FROM enabling infrastructure; 6.4/7.2% FUTURE PEOPLE IN we need them to get YOUR AREA? our resources to new markets, but we Natural Gas LOOK LIKE? The pipeline industry need to ensure all is not trusted; voices are heard in the 2006/2015: DISCUSSING THE ROLE OF people are concerned consultative process. TRANSMISSION PIPELINES IN CANADA about spills and the environment, and DO YOU FEEL THE 27.2/27.9% particularly in our INDUSTRY TRYING region – water TO IMPROVE? resources. They The industry wants Oil don’t know who is to be ahead of responsible and 2006/2015: regulations, and the who will pay when CEPA Integrity First things go wrong. program will help the industry to raise the 30.8/30.4% WHAT SHOULD bar on their operations, THE INDUSTRY collectively. It’s about DO ABOUT THESE Renewables focusing on the areas CONCERNS? There’s a lot of talk about transmission pipelines, people are concerned 2006/2015: It comes down to about as well as some but what’s actually true? And what should we believe? communication, very they might not be early on – ‘what are thinking about – such Most of us have a lot of unanswered questions, the facts regarding 0.7/2.2% as worker safety. A this industry?’ [Many] successful Integrity Source: BP Statistical as well as some pretty strong opinions. people don’t know First program will go Review of World Energy the facts – they might a long way in helping – June 2016 see a headline in to gain trust and social the newspaper, but license for pipeline OUR CHANGING Pipelines are part of a complex, emotional firmly entrenched in the energy infrastructure the general public operators. CONSUMPTION – and consumption habits – of the past. isn’t in the [pipeline] issue that stems in large part from our HABITS business, so they level of comfort with fossil fuels HOW COULD SO, HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? really don’t have all THE INDUSTRY “We’re in a transition Canada’s energy altogether. We’ve seen the damage that the information. IMPROVE ITS consumption has can result when things go wrong. And we While there may be many possible changed over the The industry needs RELATIONSHIP period where we worry about the impact these resources solutions out there, each must be carefully years but we’re clearly to explain what it WITH CANADIANS? considered and take into account all need all types of still firmly entrenched have on our planet, our communities and means when they say Relationships are in the energy our children’s futures. perspectives and voices. they’re going to build about people, and energy to be working infrastructure – and On one hand, we recognize the need for That’s where this book, the pipeline a pipeline – where sometimes there’s a consumption habits oil and gas products to sustain the lifestyles industry, and you come in – we need to is it going to go, role for information for us to make the – of the past. what are the safety pieces, a role for social we have, and understand that they are a big know where we stand today and how we are factors during media. But at the end economy go and part of our economy. But on the other hand, making improvements for the future. We are construction? And of the day you can’t we’re deeply concerned about the safety of all an important part of the conversation. once the pipeline beat face-to-face. to provide the our communities and our environment. is constructed, what I think people need to For many, a move to renewable energy are the ongoing become more familiar energy we need as safety factors, with the faces behind sources can’t come soon enough, yet we’re monitoring, emergency the industry and a population.” preparedness, etc? hopefully that will VALERIE ROY CEO of the Atlantic Chamber lead to a greater level of Commerce, located in Moncton, New This symbol lets you know where you can find more information about a specific topic. And you of trust. Brunswick, and a member of CEPA’s External can always visit www.aboutpipelines.com to learn more about the transmission pipeline industry. Advisory Panel. 2 I Speaking to Canadians About Pipelines CEPA I 3 THE PIPELINE LIFECYCLE Pipelines are regulated throughout 4 START their entire life to OPERATION AND IT’S THE ensure that people, MAINTENANCE BUT communities and MONITORING the environment 24/7 IS VITAL are protected. NEW Once the pipeline is HOW SAFE operational, it’s 1 monitored via 24/7 1 PLANNING remote monitoring MILLENNIUM. PLANNING ARE PIPELINES, and control systems, IT TAKES A drones and inline MULTI-DISCIPLINARY inspection tools. TEAM DO WE Pipelines are regularly REALLY? Engineers, inspected and TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT environmental maintained – both SAFETY MEASURES ACTUALLY NEED consultants and other inside and outside. experts collaborate Operators have on a comprehensive specific emergency PIPELINES project plan, response plans in 2 APPLICATION evaluating a variety place to ensure they of safety, are ready to respond environmental and to an incident. They ANYMORE? technical factors. also have public Planning can awareness programs GETTING THE ENERGY TO MEET take years. to prevent third-party OUR DAILY NEEDS damage to pipelines 2 from construction or agricultural activities. APPLICATION IT’S A RIGOROUS PROCESS 5 3 CONSTRUCTION Safety is the focus at every stage of the pipeline Operators must go RETIREMENT through a rigorous PIPELINE SAFETY lifecycle - pipelines are designed, built and operated regulatory approval NEVER STOPS process, including Pipeline companies to be safe, reliable and sustainable. We live in a huge, northern country with lots approval of the must ensure their pipeline route. They operations remain safe of remote places, and the typical Canadian lifestyle also get input from for the public and the landowners and other environment, even if a While its safety record is excellent, Even with all of these safety uses up a lot of energy. stakeholders. pipeline isn’t being the transmission pipeline industry improvements, incidents do happen. And used anymore. recognizes it can always make while they’re rare and have little impact 4 OPERATION 3 Operators follow AND MAINTENANCE procedures from the improvements to its operations. – on average only five litres of oil and Even as our thinking and habits become CONSTRUCTION applicable regulator to That’s why members of the Canadian gas were spilled per 1,000,000 litres THERE’S MORE TO IT remove a pipeline Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) are transported since 2002 – they’re all more focused on reducing our energy THAN WELDING demands by becoming more efficient, from service. The focused on improving industry performance responded to and taken seriously, If the pipeline receives regulator will assess and meeting stringent regulations. as the industry works toward a record making the transition to cleaner energy regulatory approval whether it is best to sources takes time. More than half of our 2/3+ With a 99.999% incident-free record, of zero incidents. and land agreements leave the pipeline in homes are heated with natural gas, and More than and other permits place or remove it pipelines are Canada’s safest means nearly all of our transportation energy are put in place, from the ground. of transporting energy. comes from refined petroleum products. two-thirds construction begins. Even when retired, But even 99.999% isn’t good enough. Operators take care to the pipeline will be Many of the products we use daily – 5 RETIREMENT The industry is constantly working to preserve vegetation, continually monitored of Canada’s improve pipeline safety, with advancements For CEPA plastics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and protect waterways, and by the pipeline lubricants – also come from petroleum. energy demand construct the pipeline operator. in science and technology translating into members, While we may still rely on fossil fuels for to be strong and safe, better pipeline design, construction some time, what we can control now is how is met by while ensuring all and durability. a 99.999% we safely transport them from place to place. codes and regulations This includes special pipeline coatings natural gas are adhered to. After incident-free Did you know that pipelines are the for preventing corrosion (a key cause of construction, operators END safest, most efficient method of transporting or products return the land to a spills), monitoring technology that detects record energy products? condition as close weakening metal within pipes and remote made from to pre-construction monitoring and control systems that alert is not good crude oil. as possible. technicians to issues, 24/7/365. enough. CEPA I 5 CAN WE USE ROAD AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION INSTEAD? CONSIDERING THE ALTERNATIVES Canada is vast, and we must ship energy across long distances to reach the people who need it.