Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines
Encyclopedia
The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Project is a proposal to construct two pipelines
running from Bruderheim, Alberta
, to Kitimat, British Columbia
. The eastbound pipeline would import natural gas condensate
and the westbound pipeline would export crude oil
. The project also includes a proposed new marine terminal in Kitimat.
This project is proposed by Enbridge Inc.
, a Canadian company that operates the world's longest crude oil and liquids pipeline system.
in 2005 to ensure the utilization of pipeline capacity. PetroChina agreed to buy about transported through the pipeline. In 2007, however, PetroChina withdrew from the projects because of delays in starting the project.
On December 4, 2009, Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) issued the Joint Review Panel Agreement and the terms of reference
for the environmental and regulatory review of the Northern Gateway Pipelines.
Enbridge Northern Gateway submitted its project application to the National Energy Board
on May 27, 2010. The eight-volume regulatory application will be assessed by a Joint Review Panel established by the Minister of the Environment and the National Energy Board.
, each with a length of 1177 kilometres (731.4 mi). Crude oil produced from oil sands would be transported from Bruderheim to Kitimat, while natural gas condensate would move in the opposite direction. Condensate would be used as a diluent
in oil refining to decrease the viscosity
of heavy crude oil
from oil sands, and to make it easier to transport by pipelines. About 520 kilometres (323.1 mi) of pipeline would run in Alberta
and 657 kilometres (408.2 mi) in British Columbia
. The crude oil pipeline would have a diameter of 36 inches (914.4 mm) and a capacity of . The condensate pipeline would have a diameter of 20 inches (508 mm) with a capacity of 193000 barrels (30,684,547.9 l) per day. Enbridge expects these pipelines to be completed by 2015. It is expected to cost at least C$4.5 billion. The proposed Kitimat terminal would comprise two tanker berth platforms
, one serving Very Large Crude Carriers and another serving Suezmax
-type condensate tankers. The terminal would include oil and condensate tanks and a pump station.
On January 19, 2011, the JRP requested that Enbridge provide more information on the proposed pipeline before it hands down its decision. The JRP said, "Based on our assessment of the application and the comments received during the panel sessions, we have determined that additional information on the design and risk assessment of the pipelines is required. This is due to the difficult access and unique geographic location of the proposed project."
Dozens of native bands rely upon healthy waters for sustenance, specifically from the Skeena, Kitimat, Morice, Fraser, and Bulkley river systems, and from the coastal waters of British Columbia: the Haisla, Haida, Tsimshian, Nisga'a, Gitsan, Carrier, Sekane, and other tribes. Polluting the rivers or coastal waters of BC would effectively poison the waters, fish, and other animals that these people need to survive.
Enbridge has announced that it is considering offering aboriginal groups an equity stake in the project to secure First Nations support for the project.
Several First Nations (including the Haisla, Gitga'at, Gitxaala, Wet'suwet’en, Nadleh Whut'en, Nak'azdli, and Takla Lake) have publicly stated (via the Joint Review Panel or in the media) that neither the Crown nor the established assessment process for Enbridge's project have adequately met their duty to consult and accommodate, or respect their Aboriginal Rights and Title.
The Pembina Institute
has published a report saying that the pipeline will have adverse impacts on land, air, and water. Some of Enbridge's shareholders have asked the company to investigate the unique risks and liabilities associated with the project.
, Hecate Strait
, and the Queen Charlotte Sound since 1972. Since then, the federal and provincial governments have commissioned periodic studies to reassess whether to lift the tanker moratorium. Each study has concluded that the risk of tanker spills is too high. In 2003–2004, the federal government initiated a three-part review process, including a scientific review by the Royal Society of Canada (the RSC report), a First Nations engagement process (the Brooks Report), and a public review process (the Priddle Panel). The RSC report concluded that "the present restriction on tanker traffic along the West Coast of British Columbia should be maintained for the time being."
In 2009, the Canadian government's position was that there is no moratorium on tanker traffic on the coast of British Columbia. However, on December 7, 2010, Canada's environmental watchdog said that "Canada isn't ready to respond to a major oil spill emanating from a tanker or other vessel."
Often, where more than one agency is involved, a joint review panel will be struck to evaluate a project by a joint environmental assessment. Other types of studies, such as socio-economic assessments, are also necessary prior to project approval. However, under the current regulations, the recommendations made in the assessments are non-binding and the project could be approved even if significant adverse environmental and socio-economic effects were found.
In December of 2010, the federal House of Commons passed a motion to ban "very large" oil tanker traffic off the British Columbia coast. If this bill passes into law, it will effectively stop all plans to build the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
Under current federal regulations, Enbridge would not be responsible if a tanker spill were to happen and would not be legally obliged to pay damages or help with cleanup efforts.
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
running from Bruderheim, Alberta
Bruderheim, Alberta
Bruderheim is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located just north of the junction of Highway 15 and Highway 45, north-east of Edmonton.-Demographics:...
, to Kitimat, British Columbia
Kitimat, British Columbia
Kitimat is a coastal city in northwestern British Columbia, in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine. The Kitimat Valley, which includes the adjacent community of Terrace, is the most populous urban district in Northwest British Columbia...
. The eastbound pipeline would import natural gas condensate
Natural gas condensate
Natural-gas condensate is a low-density mixture of hydrocarbon liquids that are present as gaseous components in the raw natural gas produced from many natural gas fields....
and the westbound pipeline would export crude oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
. The project also includes a proposed new marine terminal in Kitimat.
This project is proposed by Enbridge Inc.
Enbridge
Enbridge Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta based company focused on three core businesses: crude oil and liquids pipelines, natural gas transportation and distribution, and green energy. The company has approximately 6,000 employees, mostly in Canada and the United States...
, a Canadian company that operates the world's longest crude oil and liquids pipeline system.
History
The project was proposed in mid-2000s and has been postponed several times. It was announced in 2006. Enbridge signed a cooperation agreement with PetroChinaPetroChina
PetroChina Company Limited is a Chinese oil company and is the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation , headquartered in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is China's biggest oil producer, and was the world's most valuable company by market value as of September 28th 2010...
in 2005 to ensure the utilization of pipeline capacity. PetroChina agreed to buy about transported through the pipeline. In 2007, however, PetroChina withdrew from the projects because of delays in starting the project.
On December 4, 2009, Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) issued the Joint Review Panel Agreement and the terms of reference
Terms of reference
Terms of reference describe the purpose and structure of a project, committee, meeting, negotiation, or any similar collection of people who have agreed to work together to accomplish a shared goal. The terms of reference of a project are often referred to as the project charter.- Terms of...
for the environmental and regulatory review of the Northern Gateway Pipelines.
Enbridge Northern Gateway submitted its project application to the National Energy Board
National Energy Board
The National Energy Board is an independent economic regulatory agency created in 1959 by the Government of Canada to oversee "international and inter-provincial aspects of the oil, gas and electric utility industries"...
on May 27, 2010. The eight-volume regulatory application will be assessed by a Joint Review Panel established by the Minister of the Environment and the National Energy Board.
Technical description
The planned project consists of two parallel pipelines between an inland terminal at Bruderheim, Alberta, and a marine terminal near Kitimat, British ColumbiaKitimat, British Columbia
Kitimat is a coastal city in northwestern British Columbia, in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine. The Kitimat Valley, which includes the adjacent community of Terrace, is the most populous urban district in Northwest British Columbia...
, each with a length of 1177 kilometres (731.4 mi). Crude oil produced from oil sands would be transported from Bruderheim to Kitimat, while natural gas condensate would move in the opposite direction. Condensate would be used as a diluent
Diluent
A diluent is a diluting agent.Certain fluids are too viscous to be pumped easily or too dense to flow from one particular point to the other. This can be problematic, because it might not be economically feasible to transport such fluids in this state.To ease this restricted movement, diluents...
in oil refining to decrease the viscosity
Viscosity
Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear or tensile stress. In everyday terms , viscosity is "thickness" or "internal friction". Thus, water is "thin", having a lower viscosity, while honey is "thick", having a higher viscosity...
of heavy crude oil
Heavy crude oil
Heavy crude oil or extra heavy crude oil is any type of crude oil which does not flow easily. It is referred to as "heavy" because its density or specific gravity is higher than that of light crude oil. Heavy crude oil has been defined as any liquid petroleum with an API gravity less than 20°.Extra...
from oil sands, and to make it easier to transport by pipelines. About 520 kilometres (323.1 mi) of pipeline would run in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and 657 kilometres (408.2 mi) in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The crude oil pipeline would have a diameter of 36 inches (914.4 mm) and a capacity of . The condensate pipeline would have a diameter of 20 inches (508 mm) with a capacity of 193000 barrels (30,684,547.9 l) per day. Enbridge expects these pipelines to be completed by 2015. It is expected to cost at least C$4.5 billion. The proposed Kitimat terminal would comprise two tanker berth platforms
Berth (moorings)
A berth is a location in a port or harbour used specifically for mooring vessels while not at sea.-Locations in a port:Berth is the term used in ports and harbors to define a specific location where a vessel may be berthed, usually for the purposes of loading and unloading.Most berths will be...
, one serving Very Large Crude Carriers and another serving Suezmax
Suezmax
Suezmax is a naval architecture term for the largest ship measurements capable of transiting the Suez Canal, and is almost exclusively used in reference to tankers. Since the canal has no locks, the only serious limiting factors are draft , and height due to the Suez Canal Bridge...
-type condensate tankers. The terminal would include oil and condensate tanks and a pump station.
Environmental assessment
Once the application has been filed by Enbridge, the project will be required to undergo an extensive public regulatory review process led by the NEB and CEAA. Together, these two agencies will lead a Joint Review Panel (JRP) of the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. The JRP will provide an environmental assessment and regulatory process that will contribute to decision making.On January 19, 2011, the JRP requested that Enbridge provide more information on the proposed pipeline before it hands down its decision. The JRP said, "Based on our assessment of the application and the comments received during the panel sessions, we have determined that additional information on the design and risk assessment of the pipelines is required. This is due to the difficult access and unique geographic location of the proposed project."
Impact on native groups
The pipeline has been heavily criticized by native groups, as the pipeline traverses much of their traditional lands and threatens habitat for wild salmon, which they have relied upon for sustenance for thousands of years. In December of 2010, over 61 First Nations bands in British Columbia, including many along the proposed pipeline route, signed a declaration in opposition to the project.Dozens of native bands rely upon healthy waters for sustenance, specifically from the Skeena, Kitimat, Morice, Fraser, and Bulkley river systems, and from the coastal waters of British Columbia: the Haisla, Haida, Tsimshian, Nisga'a, Gitsan, Carrier, Sekane, and other tribes. Polluting the rivers or coastal waters of BC would effectively poison the waters, fish, and other animals that these people need to survive.
Enbridge has announced that it is considering offering aboriginal groups an equity stake in the project to secure First Nations support for the project.
Several First Nations (including the Haisla, Gitga'at, Gitxaala, Wet'suwet’en, Nadleh Whut'en, Nak'azdli, and Takla Lake) have publicly stated (via the Joint Review Panel or in the media) that neither the Crown nor the established assessment process for Enbridge's project have adequately met their duty to consult and accommodate, or respect their Aboriginal Rights and Title.
Enbridge's history of incidents
The pipeline has been criticized by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), citing Enbridge's spotty history with pipeline installation and numerous spills. These NGOs point to numerous incidents, including the high-profile Kalamazoo spill of 2010, where over 3 millilitre (1.8869432302751E-05 bbl) were spilled into the Kalamazoo river, and a spill in the Chicago area in 2010. Other concerns include the 2008 pipeline installation in Wisconsin, where over 500 regulatory violations were incurred in one year of construction. Enbridge has also had over 600 recorded leaks and breaks over the last 10 years.The Pembina Institute
Pembina Institute
The Pembina Institute is a Canadian not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions. Founded in 1985, the Institute has offices in Calgary, Drayton Valley, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Yellowknife....
has published a report saying that the pipeline will have adverse impacts on land, air, and water. Some of Enbridge's shareholders have asked the company to investigate the unique risks and liabilities associated with the project.
Tanker moratorium in British Columbia
There has been an informal moratorium on large tanker traffic in Dixon EntranceDixon Entrance
The Dixon Entrance is a strait about long and wide in the Pacific Ocean at the International Boundary between the U.S. state of Alaska and the province of British Columbia in Canada. It was named by Joseph Banks for Captain George Dixon, a Royal Navy officer, fur trader, and explorer, who...
, Hecate Strait
Hecate Strait
Hecate Strait is a wide but shallow strait between the Haida Gwaii and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It merges with Queen Charlotte Sound to the south and Dixon Entrance to the north...
, and the Queen Charlotte Sound since 1972. Since then, the federal and provincial governments have commissioned periodic studies to reassess whether to lift the tanker moratorium. Each study has concluded that the risk of tanker spills is too high. In 2003–2004, the federal government initiated a three-part review process, including a scientific review by the Royal Society of Canada (the RSC report), a First Nations engagement process (the Brooks Report), and a public review process (the Priddle Panel). The RSC report concluded that "the present restriction on tanker traffic along the West Coast of British Columbia should be maintained for the time being."
In 2009, the Canadian government's position was that there is no moratorium on tanker traffic on the coast of British Columbia. However, on December 7, 2010, Canada's environmental watchdog said that "Canada isn't ready to respond to a major oil spill emanating from a tanker or other vessel."
Environmental legal precedence in British Columbia
Tanker and pipelines that cross provincial boundaries are regulated by the federal government through the National Energy Board (NEB) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA). At the provincial level, they may also be regulated by the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (BC EAO).Often, where more than one agency is involved, a joint review panel will be struck to evaluate a project by a joint environmental assessment. Other types of studies, such as socio-economic assessments, are also necessary prior to project approval. However, under the current regulations, the recommendations made in the assessments are non-binding and the project could be approved even if significant adverse environmental and socio-economic effects were found.
In December of 2010, the federal House of Commons passed a motion to ban "very large" oil tanker traffic off the British Columbia coast. If this bill passes into law, it will effectively stop all plans to build the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
Under current federal regulations, Enbridge would not be responsible if a tanker spill were to happen and would not be legally obliged to pay damages or help with cleanup efforts.