Our existing Trans Mountain Pipeline traverses a number of waterbodies, including creeks and rivers, along its 1,150-km route. As part of our ongoing safety and natural hazards management programs, we continuously monitor and implement preventative measures to ensure the pipeline is protected from naturally occurring hazards at water crossings. This past summer, we completed maintenance on our pipeline at the North Saskatchewan River crossing in Edmonton, AB, which involved installing special covering over the pipeline to ensure maximum protection and continued safe operations.
In early 2017, hydrotechnical assessments conducted at the North Saskatchewan River crossing indicated the pipeline required additional depth-of-cover for it to remain safeguarded from potential natural hazards in the river, including future flood events and seasonal debris flow. It was determined that installing articulated concrete matting called ArmorFlex over the pipeline at the river crossing was the most effective approach in ensuring continued protection of the pipeline, while also minimizing environmental impacts in the North Saskatchewan River and construction impacts to the surrounding community.
The installation took place over several weeks in late-summer 2017 once the applicable regulatory and environmental permits relating to in stream activities were obtained. The work involved constructing a temporary wharf and two barges on the river so crews and equipment could access and place the matting across the length of the river. Once this infrastructure was put in place, 95 ArmorFlex mats, each weighing approximately six tonnes, were installed over the pipeline. An industrial diving team was used throughout the work to monitor and survey progress of the installation in the river.
Once the installation was completed, the temporary infrastructure at the river crossing was demobilized and our post-project restoration plan for the riverbanks and nearby areas disturbed during the work was implemented. Regular monitoring of the crossing and the installation will occur to ensure the pipeline is sufficiently protected as part of our ongoing natural hazards program.
Through almost 65 years of operations, we have developed a mature suite of programs to maximize the safety of the pipeline. This includes continuous 24/7 monitoring of the pipeline, corrosion protection and natural hazards management, damage prevention and public awareness programs, in-line inspections and our integrity management program. Our goal is to ensure the pipeline and associated facilities continue to operate safely and reliably while minimizing any impacts from operations on both the public and the environment while complying with all applicable standards and regulatory requirements.