|  The
following information on the pipeline industry will give you
a background about the industry.
These facts are gathered from the Canadian
Energy Pipeline Association Website.
INDUSTRY FACTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF PIPELINES
Canadian transmission pipelines transport
95 per cent of the crude oil and natural gas produced in Canada.
They are the vital link that connects oil and natural gas producers
in remote areas of the country and domestic and export markets
in urban centres.
Major Impact
Transmission
pipeline make it possible for natural gas produced in northeaster
B.C. to heat home and fuel major industries in Ontario and
Quebec. Pipeline also moves crude oil and hydrocarbon products
from remote areas of Alberta to Eastern Canada where they
are refined into gasoline and used as feedstock for pharmaceuticals
and plastics.
Domestic Needs
Pipelines transport almost two-thirds of our nation’s
total energy supply. Natural gas transported by pipeline fills
about 27 per cent of this supply, including the natural gas
to heat more than half the nation’s homes. Crude oil
carried largely by pipeline meets 40 per cent of Canada’s
energy needs. Pipelines also transport imported crude oil
is shipped to markets in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces
that do not have economical access to Canadian supplies. These
imports are offset by larger Canadian crude shipments to the
U.S. Midwest.
HOW DO PIPELINES WORK?
The oil and natural gas industry is
divided into two main components. The upstream sector produces
oil and natural gas from underground reservoirs while the
downstream sector refines, markets and distributes the products.
The transmission pipeline sector transports oil and natural
gas from the upstream petroleum sector to downstream distribution
networks.
Three Types of Lines
Together, these sectors operator a complex 540,000 –
kilometre pipeline system that is made up of three types of
pipelines. In the upstream sector, oil and gas producers operate
flow lines or gathering lines that move raw products from
remote wells to processing facilities or directly to transmission
lines. Transmission pipeline, which can measure more than
a metre in diameter, carry oil and gas from producers to local
distribution companies or directly to large industries. Distribution
companies move the products through distribution pipeline
that deliver natural gas and liquid hydrocarbons to homes
and businesses.
Pressure Driven
Products travel through pipelines under pressure created by
compressors and pump stations. In natural gas pipeline, compressors
powered by gas engines or electric motors compress the gas
up to one hundred times the normal atmospheric pressure. The
same function is carried out on oil pipelines by pumps that
are usually powered by electricity.
Major liquid hydrocarbon lines transport different types of
refined and unrefined petroleum products. These products are
separated and shipped in "batches" that travel
at about five kilometres per hour; Natural gas pipelines move
gas at a rate of about 20 kilometres per hour.
Why are pipelines used?
When new oil or gas is found, producers and pipeline operators
look for the most economical way to transport the commodity
to market. Pipelines are the most cost-effective method of
transporting oil and natural gas.
HOW ARE PIPELINES BUILT?
After establishing the pipeline route
and volumes to be transported, company land agents negotiate
the acquisition of a right of way along the proposed route;
Landowners are paid for access to the land and also compensated
for disruptions caused by construction and maintenance of
pipelines.
Getting Ready
Detailed environmental and archaeological studies are completed
to assess and reduce impact. Contractors then clear the right
of way. The actual construction is a mobile assembly line.
Soil for the trench is removed in layers so that it can be
replaced to conserve topsoil. The pipe itself is selected
for strength and durability. These steel pipelines are given
protective coatings to prevent corrosion.
Laying Pipe
Welders join section of pipe together before they are lowered
into the trench. During construction, X-rays and other inspections
are carried out to ensure that welds meet demanding specifications.
The pipeline may be pre-coated with protective materials such
as corrosion-resistant plastic, or it may be coated just before
it goes into the ground. The trench is backfilled, and the
topsoil replaced. The original surface contour is restored
to maintain drainage and reduce erosion.
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