TransCanada Alberta natural gas line break is second in 24 hr

Dec. 2, 2003
TransCanada reported a break and resulting fire early Tuesday on its Alberta natural gas system about 20 km southwest of Valleyview, Alta., and the Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Dec. 2 -- TransCanada reported a break and resulting fire early Tuesday on its Alberta natural gas system about 20 km southwest of Valleyview, Alta., and the Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

The line break, which is the second to occur in the area in less than 24 hr, follows an initial break on the line Monday about 15 km downstream of the second break and 30 km southwest of Little Smokey, Alta.

"TransCanada immediately activated its emergency response plan to isolate damaged sections of pipelines and allow the natural gas fires to burn themselves out," the company reported in a written statement. The pipeline company also reported no injuries as a result of either incident, adding that the extent of the damage to the pipeline has not yet been determined.

The first break affected some of the line's shippers but no further impacts came about because of the second break, TransCanada said. "Deliveries of gas to local communities have not been impacted as a result of either incident," the company said.

TransCanada is currently evaluating the extent of the damage to the line and checking the line's safety.