Canada Energy Regulator halts unauthorized work near Trans-Northern pipeline

Canada Energy Partners

11/09/2023 06:01

Sept 11 (Reuters) - The Canada Energy Regulator (CER)
has restricted all work activities within 15m (16 yards) of the
Trans-Northern Pipeline's main line, after construction work
came dangerously close to the pipeline in Oshawa, Ontario, it
said on Friday.
    CER inspection officers found evidence of extensive top-soil
removal and unsupervised ground disturbance within the pipeline
right-of-way that could cause damage to the in-service pipeline.
    The unauthorized activity resulted from a construction
company using faulty pipeline maps for nearly two months, the
CER said in its order, "leaving only approximately 6 inches of
earth cover in some areas." 
    Trans-Northern Pipeline Inc (TNPI) reported the activity to
the CER on Aug. 24 after revising its location diagrams and
froze the site of the incident for increased safety. 
    On Aug. 30, CER also ordered TNPI to provide a mitigation
plan, reduce operating pressure if necessary, rectify the
pipeline maps, investigate the root cause by Sept. 30, and
implement corrective actions by Oct. 31.  

 (Reporting by Deep Vakil and Anushree Mukherjee in Bengaluru;
Editing by Tom Hogue)
 ((DeepKaushik.Vakil@thomsonreuters.com;))