AER orders Apache Canada to address integrity of pipeline system

July 8, 2015
Alberta Energy Regulator has directed Apache Canada Ltd. to address the integrity of its pipeline management system because of “failure to follow provincial legislation and AER requirements.”

Alberta Energy Regulator has directed Apache Canada Ltd. to address the integrity of its pipeline management system because of “failure to follow provincial legislation and AER requirements.”

AER said Apache had six pipeline incidents between June 1, 2013, and Oct. 29, 2014, that caused loss or damage to public lands, and that Apache failed to appropriately report or remediate some of the sites as required.

Between Jan. 23, 2009, and Nov. 6, 2013, AER said it issued 12 high-risk enforcement actions to Apache for noncompliance with the Pipeline Act and Pipeline Rules.

AER directed Apache to:

• Submit a plan to prevent future releases for all its high-risk pipelines by July 31, for implementation by Sept. 30.

• Complete a third-party audit of its pipeline integrity management system by Dec. 31, and implement recommendations within a year.

• Implement recommendations specific to the Zama field by Dec. 31 (OGJ Online, Oct. 22, 2013).

• Submit a communication plan that describes, at a minimum, monthly progress updates on its web site.