Northern Pipelining

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Northern Pipelining Practical
Experience
Presentation to APEGGA April 21, 2005 Calgary
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Topics

• Enbridge (NW) Pipeline System Overview
• Northern Pipeline Challenges and Successes
• Maintenance and Monitoring
• Inspection and Integrity Management
• Reporting
• The people that make it possible

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Quick Facts
Enbridge (NW) Pipeline System

• Constructed 1983 1985
• Diameter 323.8 mm
• Length 869 km
• Design Limit States
• Features
• 140 defined water crossings
• 2 major rivers
• 150 significant slopes
• ambient temperature pipeline
• Design Pressure 9930 kPa

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Quick Facts
Enbridge (NW) Pipeline System

• Throughput 30,000 BPD (4,800 m3/d)
• One shipper from Norman Wells to KP 839.2 Two
  shippers from there to KP 869 (Zama)
• Three (3) Pump Stations
• 1 natural gas powered (NW)
• 2 diesel powered (WG MC)
• Crude Characteristics
• Density 827 kg/m3
• Pour Point -50 Celsius
• RVP lt 103 kPag
• Viscosity 2.0 cSt.
• Remote Operations from Edmonton

Aerial View of Norman Wells
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Northern Pipeline Challenges

• Unique Northern P/L Issues
• Capital Cost
• Geography and Remote Access
• Permafrost
• Enbridge Experience Applied to
• Future Development
• Proven sub-surface construction in permafrost
• Proven methods of monitoring pipeline integrity

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Norman Wells Successes Design Innovation

• Operating temperatures
• Limit States Design
• lower cost
• strain limit 0.5
• Integrity monitoring

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Norman Wells Successes Permafrost Challenges Met

• Design
• Environmental/ Geotechnical
• Right of Way
• trenching

Ice Rich
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Norman Wells Successes Slopes Then and Now
1984
1997

• Design
• Environmental/ Geotechnical
• Right of Way
• trenching
• slope stabilization

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ExperiencePermafrost
Area of sporadic permafrost that requires minimal
pipeline design and construction considerations
for permafrost
Map and Diagram from Geological Survey of Canada
website
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Norman Wells SuccessesDealing with Ice

• Design
• Environmental/ Geotechnical
• Right of Way
• trenching
• slope stabilization
• thaw settlement / frost heave

Ice lens
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Inertial Inspection Runs GEOPIG
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Integrity Management inPermafrost

• Geo-Pig

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Maintenance Activity Pipe Replacement
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Maintenance Activities
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Maintenance Activities to Present
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Monitoring Activities
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Reporting to Regulators

• Annual Reports
• Operations Maintenance Activities
• Condition of Pipeline
• Terrain Monitoring
• Slope Monitoring and Performance
• Operations Monitoring Program
• Right-of-way Assessment

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Pipeline Maintenance

• Hauling propane to remote area valve sites.

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Field Personnel

• Employees are permanent residents of the
  communities of Norman Wells and Ft. Simpson.
• They provide significant contributions to the
  quality of life in the communities through their
  volunteer activities.
• Successful and enduring positive northern
  relationships are built and maintained on the
  basis of mutual honesty, respect and trust.

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Questions