At Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc. (TNPI), we are committed to the safety, transparency, and reliability of our pipeline operations. We understand that you may have questions about our processes, the products we transport, and how we maintain the safety and integrity of our pipelines. To assist, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to address common inquiries about our operations, regulations, and safety protocols.
Whether you’re interested in learning more about pipeline maintenance, right-of-way guidelines, or how we monitor and manage the safety of our infrastructure, our FAQ section provides clear and concise answers to help you better understand how we operate and ensure safety for both the public and the environment.
Find Answers to Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Our pipelines safely transport the refined petroleum products — such as gasoline, diesel, aviation, and heating fuel — that Canadians use every day.
A pipeline right-of-way is the strip of land in which the pipeline will be located. The width of the right-of-way may vary depending on factors such as pipeline diameter and the slope of the land, but it will typically range from 12-30 metres (approximately 40-100 feet) for the entire length of the pipeline.
The controlled or prescribed area is a strip of land 30 metres wide on either side of the pipeline, measured from the centre of the outermost pipeline. If the right-of-way (ROW) extends beyond 30 metres from the centre of the outermost pipeline, the entire ROW is in the controlled or prescribed area.
TNPI encourages those who live and work near pipelines to continue using the land where the right-of-way is situated, while noting the installation or construction of any facility over the right-of-way; the parking or storing of vehicles or materials on the right-of-way; the crossing of vehicles and other equipment of the pipeline; and excavations/ground-disturbances within the prescribed area (a strip of land 30 metres wide on either side of the pipeline, measured from the centre of the outermost pipeline) require written permission from TNPI.
The first step when digging anywhere is to know what’s below and ClickBeforeYouDig. Doing so will identify and notify buried utilities in the vicinity of your project, allowing them to either locate and mark their buried energy and utility network, provide an “all-clear” to work, or, begin a process with you to ensure your project meets regulatory requirements and is carried out safely.
TNPI monitors the pipeline using the latest pipeline monitoring technology. Our highly trained and dedicated line controllers remotely monitor and operate the pipeline from our control room 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. All operations are closely monitored for any sign of a potential problem.
In addition, we conduct regular visual inspections of the pipeline right-of-way — the area around the pipeline — using aerial surveillance and vehicle patrols.
Specialized internal inspection tools also regularly run inside the pipelines to provide us with an internal view. The data from the tool is analyzed and if any areas of concern or anomalies are detected, we excavate so we can visually inspect the pipeline to get a closer look and, if needed, make repairs. The area is then returned to pre-excavation conditions.
In Ontario and Quebec, our pipelines are regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), the agency responsible for regulating pipeline activities in the interests of the Canadian public. In Alberta, we are regulated by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), the agency responsible for regulating Alberta’s oil and gas resources.
All underground pipelines are marked above ground with marker signs posted along the pipeline route, advising those in the area that they are near a pipeline. The marker signs include our contact information in the event of an emergency. In Ontario and Québec our signs are yellow. In Alberta, they’re white.
Before you dig, cross a pipeline right-of-way with a vehicle or heavy equipment, or park or store vehicles or items on the right-of-ay, always get permission and verify the location of pipelines and other utilities to reduce the risk of damage and promote safe excavation practices. You can find out more under Safety and Living and Working Near Pipelines.
A right-of-way agreement may be known by other names such as a Statutory Right-of-Way Agreement, Pipeline Right-of-Way Agreement, Easement Agreement or Utility Right-of-Way Agreement.
A right-of-way agreement is a written agreement between the pipeline company and the landowner. Usually, a right-of-way agreement allows the company to construct and operate the pipeline while the landowner still owns the lands. A right-of-way agreement sets out the rights and obligations of both the company and the landowner regarding the use of the lands for the location of the pipeline, and will specify restrictions on the use of the land.
The company has the right to use the lands to build, operate, and maintain the pipeline once a right-of-way agreement is in effect. The company will then register the agreement with the local land titles or registry office. The agreement remains registered to title for the life of the pipeline, even if the land is sold and purchased by new owners.
The company has the right to use the lands to build, operate, and maintain the pipeline once a right-of-way agreement is in effect, based on the specific terms of the agreement.
Pipelines are among the safest methods of transporting large quantities of petroleum products over long distances. It is common for pipelines to be alongside other utilities, often within a utility corridor. Certain activities are prohibited within the right-of-way to protect public safety and the integrity of the utilities.
Safety of the public, of the environment, and of our assets are our highest priority. According to the Government of Canada, pipelines are recognized as the safest method of transporting large quantities of liquid hydrocarbons (oil and gas) over long distances. We monitor the pipeline inside and out using the latest pipeline monitoring technology, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and we preform regular aerial and ground surveillance and other activities to ensure our pipelines are operating safely for both the public and the environment.
Did you know there are more than 840,000 kilometers of pipelines in Canada? Pipelines are a safe, reliable and environmentally friendly way to transport refined fuel and other oil and gas products. According to the Government of Canada, pipelines are recognized as the safest method of transporting large quantities of liquid hydrocarbons (oil and gas) over long distances. Without pipelines, these products would need to be transported by other means such as by rail, or trucks, adding thousands of additional long distance truck trips per day on Canada’s roads.
Maintenance activities vary from clearing vegetation (such as grasses, brush and weeds) and trees in the area along the right-of-way, to monitoring around waterways to check for soil erosion, to preventative maintenance such as repairing or replacing sections of the pipeline with new pipe if there is corrosion or other changes that might impact the reliability or integrity of the pipe. These activities are conducted based on the data we collect through inspections which is analyzed by our engineers and third-party experts.
Exposure refers to a loss of cover, typically soil, over the pipeline. This usually occurs when water flowing in the area where the pipeline is located causes soil erosion over time, or from agricultural activity. When this happens, we develop a plan to both restore depth of cover over the pipeline and prevent future erosion. If you see an exposed pipeline, contact us immediately using the information on the pipeline marker so we can investigate.
An integrity dig is the process of excavating around an area of the pipeline to visually inspect it to get a closer look and, if needed, make repairs. There are several steps:
- Notify impacted and potentially impacted parties of our plan to conduct a dig.
- Complete a survey of the area, considering the access route to the location, the area to be excavated, whether there are other utilities in the area and the impact on the environment, including wildlife, wetlands, or bodies of water.
- Develop our work plan.
- Secure permits to perform the work.
- Follow up with immediately impacted parties to arrange a time to perform the integrity dig.
- Complete “locates” which mark out our line, as well as any other utilities within our workspace and carefully dig to avoid disrupting these utilities.
- Assess the pipeline with qualified inspectors to determine if there is anything that requires repair. And, if needed, develop a repair plan.
- When we’re finished, we return the area to pre-excavation conditions. This may take time depending on the time of year and the weather conditions.
Pipeline incidents are a rare occurrence. In the unlikely event that a spill occurs, we can immediately shut down the pipeline remotely from our control centre and activate our comprehensive Emergency Management Program. We share our plans with emergency responders, Indigenous communities, and municipalities where we operate to ensure alignment of response protocols, and update the program annually to consider any changes in our business and externally.
To ensure we are prepared, we also conduct regular training on emergency response scenarios, and engage with employees, consultants, emergency management officials, emergency responders, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and federal and provincial agencies.
A well-maintained and monitored pipeline can last for decades. In addition to ongoing monitoring and inspection, we conduct preventative maintenance to ensure our pipeline operates safely. This may include repairing or replacing sections of the pipeline with new pipe if there is corrosion or other changes that might impact the reliability or integrity of the pipe.