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Spills and Releases
Our goal is to prevent all spills and releases from our energy transportation and distribution systems. We carry out spill prevention and detection preventive maintenance programs as part of comprehensive integrity management of our pipelines and facilities. Our communication programs also keep property owners and neighbours along our rights-of-way informed about our system and enlist their help in the prevention, detection and safe response to pipeline spills. When a spill does occur, we routinely conduct a formal post-mortem, which is a valuable tool to share lessons learned both locally and across the Company.
Our Impacts
A reportable spill is any spill reportable to a regulatory jurisdiction. In the case of any spill, we carry out emergency response procedures to immediately shut down the system, contain the spill and manage potential impacts to the environment and public safety. We also work closely with landowners, regulatory agencies and other concerned parties to develop remediation and monitoring plans, collecting as much of the product as possible and verifying that residual contaminants are appropriately managed.
Our Performance
In 2006, Liquids Pipelines recorded 61 reportable liquid spills totaling 5,363 barrels from our transmission pipelines in Canada and the United States.
Our goal is zero releases and to minimize potential environmental impact should a release occur. That is why, in addition to rigorous system-wide integrity programs and processes, we have implemented additional focused programs including the Small Piping Integrity Program and spill containment enhancements, which are described in the Pipeline and System Integrity section of this report. (See Pipeline and System Integrity)
Sheridan County, Montana
On December 22, 2006, approximately 2,000 barrels of oil were released when a two-inch nipple failed downstream of a pump at a lease site on our North Dakota System in Sheridan County, Montana. The released oil gathered in a low spot in a pasture approximately 150 yards from the pump. Approximately 1,950 barrels of oil were recovered and reinjected into the pipeline, and another 45 barrels of oil were collected by vacuum trucks and transferred to a waste processing facility in Alexander, North Dakota. The remaining five barrels of released oil were burned under a state-issued burn permit and the remaining contaminated soil was collected and hauled to the Sheridan County Solid Waste Facility. Final site restoration and sampling will be completed in accordance with Montana Department of Environmental Quality requirements.
Willmar, Saskatchewan
On March 18, 2006, an estimated 613 barrels of crude oil were released when a pump failed at Enbridge Pipelines (Saskatchewan) Inc.’s Willmar Terminal.
Approximately 308 barrels of product were recovered during initial spill response and containment. During clean-up activities, 338.5 cubic metres of contaminated material was hauled away for disposal and additional recovery of product. We initiated a Remedial Action Plan in 2006 following sampling of offsite impacts outside the terminal property. Additional reclamation activities and monitoring are planned for off-site impacts during the 2007 season.
Other Business Units
U.S. Gas Transportation recorded six reportable spills in 2006 totaling 300 barrels equivalent.
Enbridge Gas Distribution did not incur any spills in 2006 that resulted in violations or enforcement actions by environmental authorities. However, the business unit did record two non-reportable spills, both of which occurred in the vicinity of watercourses north of Toronto. Both spills involved the release of bentonite drilling slurry during gas distribution drilling operations. We notified regulatory agencies of both incidents, but no enforcement actions were taken as a result. Follow-up aquatic assessments of the affected areas found no lasting effects on the watercourses. To prevent similar spills in the future, we have adjusted mitigation measures for horizontal directional drilling operations and conducted refresher training of staff associated with these types of drilling operations with an emphasis on spill prevention.
Spills In Early 2007
In early 2007, Liquids Pipelines recorded two crude oil spills on our Lakehead System in Wisconsin. In January, a pipeline ruptured and leaked about 1,250 barrels of oil into a farm field. No wetland or drinking water was impacted. Within a week of the spill, the site had been thoroughly cleaned up with all oil and contaminated soil removed and the pipeline repaired and returned to service. In February, a section of pipe was struck and damaged during excavation work, resulting in the release of 3,000 barrels of oil, nearly all of which was contained in the excavation ditch and recovered. Subsequently, a large amount of oily soil was removed, and longer-term monitoring implemented to address any remaining contamination. These two spills will be reflected in our "reportable spills" statistics in our 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility Report.
In April 2007, approximately 6,227 barrels of crude oil spilled in a field downstream of Liquids Pipelines’ pumping station at Glenavon, Saskatchewan. The line is a 34-inch, 490,000 barrel-per-day line transporting heavy and medium crude oil from Edmonton, Alberta, to Superior, Wisconsin. The oil was contained in a low area at the site, and initial clean up was completed within a few days in compliance with all government regulations. Long-term site remediation will be undertaken in consultation with regulators with the objective of returning the site to as close as possible to its original condition. The cause of the release has not yet been determined and is being investigated.
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