The pipeline, which transports natural gas liquids and condensate from LaGlace, Alberta, to Fox Creek, Alberta, for delivery to Edmonton, has been out of service for several weeks to facilitate a hydrotest. The test, designed to confirm the operating integrity of the pipeline, was undertaken as a precautionary measure following the 25 April break on a remotely-located line segment. The cause of the break has been established as stress-corrosion cracking, a condition which can occur on pipe utilizing a tape-coated wrap such as that used on 12-in NGL line.
Significant progress has been made in clean-up and recovery activities at the rupture site, and the company says that exceptional response of its personnel has limited the environmental damage arising from this incident. The total costs associated with this event, including the cost of the hydrotest and repairs, is estimated at roughly US$6million, and will be included in the cost of service for this pipeline and recovered through tolls.
Pembina’s president and CEO, Bob Michaleski, had commented on 5 April that the company “believes that the cause here is not related to a prior break on this line [in 2001], and it should be noted that this crack was undetectable prior to the recent failure, as an internal inspection of that line segment following the 2001 incident revealed nothing unusual.”