NEB responds to Manitoba gas pipeline explosion

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) responded to a pipeline incident that occurred Jan. 25 in an isolated area near the town of Otterburne, 25 km south of Winnipeg, Manitoba, on a sweet natural gas pipeline owned and operated by TransCanada Pipeline Inc. (TCPL).

The resulting fire from the pipeline break was extinguished by early afternoon and no harm was caused to local residents, NEB reported.

The incident triggered emergency measures that included isolating Line 1 and depressurizing the pipeline to contain the fire and avoid further damage.

The NEB, which is not expecting lasting environmental effects, said it will be working with Canada’s Transportation Safety Board in assessing the cause of the incident.

TransCanada’s Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. in October suffered a rupture on its pipeline system 138 km west of Fort McMurray, Alta (OGJ Online, Oct. 18, 2013).