Image Credit: CKPG Today

By Caden Fanshaw / CKPG Today

Pipeline Fine

Operator of natural gas pipeline that exploded near Prince George issued fine

Nov 13, 2020 | 11:59 AM

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Canada’s Energy Regulator has issued a $40,000 fine to Texas based Westcoast Energy Inc. for the 2018 pipeline explosion 13 km northeast of Prince George.

The explosion happened close to Shelley and forced 100 home evacuations as a precaution in October of 2018.

The violation comes after the National Energy Board conducted regulatory oversight activities and an enforcement investigation.

During these processes, the NEB determined that Westcoast did not adequately implement its integrity management program with respect to stress corrosion cracking and inspection practices and that, had Westcoast done so, the pipeline defect could have been detected to avoid the rupture.

In response Westcoast states “ that a ‘maximum re-inspection interval between successive EMAT inspections of ten years is required.’

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EMAT or Electro-Magnetic Acoustic Transducer is an Ultrasonic Testing (UT) technique used to test the integrity of the pipeline.

Westcoast Energy owns the pipeline, which operates as Spectra Energy Transmission (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (Enbridge) following Enbridge’s merger with Spectra in February 2017).

Previously the Canada Transportation Safety Board conducted an investigation into the rupture; it released its report on 4 March 2020. As set out in the TSB report, the rupture originated at stress corrosion cracks on the outside surface of the pipeline.

The fine is $40,000 for a single-day violation on the day of the explosion on October 9, 2018. According to macro-trends the annual revenue for Enbridge Inc. in 2019 was over $37 billion.

You can read the original CKPG News article from October 9, 2018 when the pipeline first exploded here.