Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc. (TNPI) – Orders AO-001-SO-T217-03-2010 and AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010 – Line B9 Weld Crack Anomaly Re-Assessment

Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc. (TNPI) – Orders AO-001-SO-T217-03-2010 and AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010 – Line B9 Weld Crack Anomaly Re-Assessment [PDF 294 KB]

File OF-Surv-Gen-T217 01
6 September 2023

Lee Nanos
Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc.
310 - 45 Vogell Road
Richmond Hill, ON   L4B 3P6

Dear Lee Nanos:

• Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc.
  Orders AO-001-SO-T217-03-2010 and AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010
  Line B9 Weld Crack Anomaly Re-Assessment
  
  
• Before: K. Penney, Presiding Commissioner; T. Grimoldby, Commissioner; W. Jacknife, Commissioner

For the reasons explained below, the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator has decided to rescind Order AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010 and replace it with the attached Order AO-009-SO-T217-03-2010.

On 6 September 2022, the Commission issued Order AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010 to Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc. (TNPI), which varied Order AO-001-SO-T217-03-2010 by deleting Line 9 in Schedule B to remove the nominal pipe size (NPS) 16 Oakville to Clarkson Loop, subject to the following condition:

1. TNPI shall repair, and report to the Commission that it has completed the repairs of, weld anomalies Feature/Marker ID 002-002548 and Feature/Marker ID 006-001876 for the Oakville to Clarkson Loop, as listed in Table 15 of the engineering assessment attached to TNPI’s application, by the following dates:
   1. For weld anomaly Feature/Marker ID 002-002548: 30 September 2023; and
   2. For weld anomaly Feature/Marker ID 006-001876: 31 May 2023.

On 31 May 2023, TNPI filed with the CER a letter and a report entitled “B9 Crack Anomaly Re-Assessment” in relation to the two weld crack anomalies that are the subject of Condition 1 of Order AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010. TNPI did not report to the Commission that it had completed the repair of weld anomaly Feature/Marker ID 006-001876 by 31 May 2023, as required by part b of the Condition. Although TNPI did not comply with part b of the Condition, the Commission finds that the report, which TNPI submitted by the deadline for part b of the Condition, justifies extending the deadline for repairing both weld anomalies.

TNPI submitted that, as part of its integrity prioritization activities, the weld crack anomalies were re-assessed based on the latest pressure data and, as a result, these two anomalies are predicted to fail by August 2027 and January 2027, respectively. The Commission notes that the new recommended action timelines of the B9 Crack Anomaly Re-Assessment are August 2025 for the weld anomaly Feature/Marker ID 002-002548 and January 2025 for the weld anomaly Feature/Marker ID 006-001876. TNPI submitted that both weld crack anomalies are included in TNPI’s dig program and are expected to be mitigated within the year 2023. TNPI confirmed that it will update the Commission by the end of 2023 when the weld crack anomalies are excavated and mitigated.

Based on the contents of the report, the Commission finds that delaying the repairs of weld anomaly Feature/Marker ID 006-001876 and weld anomaly Feature/Marker ID 002-002548 to the end of 2023 would not likely jeopardize the integrity of the pipeline. Accordingly, pursuant to section 33 and subsection 69(1) of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, the Commission rescinds Order AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010 and issues Order AO-009-SO-T217-03-2010 to reflect this revised date in relation to both weld anomalies.

The Commission reminds TNPI that if it does not meet Condition 1 of Order AO-009-SO-T217-03-2010, then the NPS 16 Oakville to Clarkson Loop will be added back into Schedule B and again be subject to pressure restrictions.

Order AO-009-SO-T217-03-2010 is attached.

Yours sincerely,

Signed by

Ramona Sladic
Secretary of the Commission

Attachment

c.c. Jane Keast, TNPI, Email
Gail Sharko, TNPI, Email

Attachments

BEFORE the Commission of the CER on 5 September 2023.

WHEREAS the CER regulates the construction and operation of the TNPI pipeline system;

AND WHEREAS on 20 September 2016, the National Energy Board issued a letter decision and Order AO-001-SO-T217-03-2010, which it varied on 24 October 2016 and 11 April 2017, and the Commission further varied on 17 July 2020, 8 June 2022, 6 September 2022, and 1 November 2022;

AND WHEREAS on 31 May 2023, TNPI filed with the CER a letter and a report entitled “B9 Crack Anomaly Re-Assessment”, dated 2 May 2023;

AND WHEREAS, as explained in the Commission’s letter dated 5 September 2023, the Commission considers the information included in the B9 Crack Anomaly Re-Assessment report satisfactory to justify replacing Condition 1 in Order AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010;

AND WHEREAS Order AO-001-SO-T217-03-2010, as amended, remains in force and is further amended by this Order;

IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to subsection 69(1) of the CER Act,

1. Order AO-006-SO-T217-03-2010 is rescinded; and
2. Order AO-001-SO-T217-03-2010, as amended, is varied by deleting Line 9 in Schedule B to remove the NPS 16 Oakville to Clarkson Loop, subject to the following condition. The varied Schedule B is attached to this Order.
   1. TNPI shall repair, and report to the Commission that it has completed the repairs of, weld anomalies Feature/Marker ID 002-002548 and Feature/Marker ID 006-001876 for the Oakville to Clarkson Loop, as listed in the B9 Crack Anomaly Re-Assessment attached to TNPI’s letter dated 31 May 2023, by 31 December 2023.

THE COMMISSION OF THE CANADA ENERGY REGULATOR

Signed by

Ramona Sladic
Secretary of the Commission

AO-009-SO-T217-03-2010

SCHEDULE B

Order AO-009-SO-T217-03-2010
Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc.
Variation to Safety Order AO-001-SO-T217-03-2010

Schedule B – Pressure Reduction of 30% of Approved MOP (as Specified)

Date modified:

2024-03-07