Abandoned Oil Pipelines What Lurks Below?
B. McPherson
Controversy over new oil pipelines is reaching boiling point
in many circles. Heated debate is taking place over the proposed Enbridge
Northern Gateway and Keystone Pipeline proposals. Safety, disruption to
landowners and more are being weighed
against the money to be made transporting and selling petroleum products. It
got me thinking about the old pipelines. What happens to a pipeline when it is
too old to use or not needed?
It’s a bit of an Alice in Wonderland scene. The US laws and
regulations are different from ours in Canada. The Pipeline and Gas Journal is
a source of information about abandoned pipelines in Texas. Apparently a
pipeline in Texas may be abandoned by a company, but it still retains ownership
and may choose to reactivate the line at a later date. In the meantime, the
right of way or easement is no longer maintained, but the through which the
pipe extends is not free to dig it up or build on top of it.
Abandoning a pipeline, but retaining ownership allows the
oil transport company to avoid expenses and liabilities. The following points
were copied from the Pipeline and Gas Journal, Oct 2009
* Possible environmental problems,
* Possible
opportunity for future use,
* No company policy
regarding this kind of property,
* Ignorance of
potential profits, and
* Ignorance of
potential liabilities. Pipeline and Gas Journal, Oct. 2009
In Canada an oil company must apply to the National Energy Board to abandon a pipeline. There are considerations as to whether to leave
the line in the ground or to remove it. The Energy Board has the final say as
to the disposition of the asset(or liability). In Canada, a pipeline may not be
reactivated without the permission of the Board.
OK so the pipeline is abandoned and left in place. Is it
cleaned? The recent spill into the Red Deer River in Alberta was from an
unused(abandoned) pipeline. It fouled a large area of the river and rendered a
lake unusable for recreation and threatened the drinking water of the town of
Red Deer.
According to the National Energy Board of Canada(NEB) there
are 700 000 kilometres of oil and gas pipelines in Canada. I could not find
figures for the extent of abandoned pipes. As a field is pumped out and left,
often the pipes are also left. Eventually those metal pipes will corrode,
spilling the residues into the adjoining landscape. Also the empty tubes may
serve as water conduits moving water along with hydrocarbon residues to
unexpected places.
People in Canada cannot legally stop a Big Oil company from
trenching across their land to lay pipelines. The best they can do is to
negotiate a pathway that keeps the high pressure lines away from houses and
buildings. Oil pipelines are buried an average of one to two metres(3 to 6 ft.)
under the soil. If their property is poisoned by leaking pipes, ask them how much
Big Oil has benefited them.
Pipelines leak,
sometimes early, sometimes late, but they will leak and poison the environment.
I don't know if you looked at the linked paper but it gives detailed info on abandonment in Canada, including some information that may be used in future abandonment rule revisions:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.neb-one.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rsftyndthnvrnmnt/sfty/rfrncmtrl/pplnbndnmnttchnclnvrnmntl-eng.html
In Alberta a pipeline corydor has been established and you rightfully point out that users don't get a lot of options if they don't want the pipeline on their property.
While pipeline companies like Enbridge, TransCanada and Inter Pipe will take the path of least resistance, in some cases they forward the landowners refusal to the Alberta regulator. This, however removes the negotiation process, the company gets an injunction until the issue is arbitrated. In either case the project proceeds.
How that will play out for the Norther Gateway pipeline remains to be seen. I guess the real question is, in view that the oilsands will be developed and China wants the oil, which is the safest transportation method? Is it rail or is it the pipeline?
Alberta's Premier must sit down with the Premier of B.C. though and work out a solution. Right now both of them are playing a game of chicken like a couple of high school kids.
It will also be interesting what the fed govs response will be should the NEB turn down the project.
The Keystone XL pipeline is also in danger of getting scrapped. Maybe we should refine our own oil in New Brunswick and Ontario.
I think you hit the nail squarely in your last paragraph. Our premier(or dimples as her detractors call her) is posturing to try to save the next election. The issue in BC as I see it is the environment not the money. Many jobs in BC depend on a healthy environment. Of course China would rather buy oil from us than from unstable areas, but China is not our friend. Thanks for taking the time to send such a thoughtful comment.
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