Combine at dusk

Combine at dusk

Monday, December 13, 2010

Failures of High Pressure Natural Gas Pipelines Pose Significant Threat

Alliance Pipeline Limited (Alliance) has made an application to the National Energy Board (NEB) to be excused from a proposed requirement that it either replace its pipeline or lower its maximum operating pressure in the vicinity of a new casino development called Alexis.  The Alexis Casino will be located 92 metres from the centreline of Alliance's 36 inch diameter high pressure natural gas pipeline.  The NEB has previously stated to Alliance that it will need to modify its pipeline in the vicinity of the casino in order to bring the pipeline within Class 3 requirements (for higher density population areas).  Alliance wishes to leave the pipeline as is.

The NEB has now issued additional information requests to Alliance regarding its proposed operation of its pipeline near the Alexis Casino - NEB Letter dated December 10, 2010.  Appended to the information requests is a copy of a report entitled, "A MODEL FOR SIZING HIGH CONSEQUENCE AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH NATURAL GAS PIPELINES".  The report describes some of the destructive consequences of ruptures of high-pressure gas pipelines, including mushroom clouds, trench fires, jet fires and flash fires. 

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