AS INCREDIBLE AS IT MAY SEEM, HERE’S WHAT WE MAY FACE : TRANSPORT NON-CONVENTIONAL OIL AT A PRESSURE NEARLY NEVER EXPERIENCED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS OLD PIPELINE, WITHOUT VERIFYING THAT IT’S LEAK-PROOF. IN PRACTICE tHIS CORRESPONDS TO A TEST IN WHICH WE ARE THE GUINEA-PIGS. We name it: “pETRODYNAMIC” TEST.
PETRODYNAMIC TEST
TECHNICAL BRIEF
Description : The petrodynamic test circulates oil at the working pressure authorized without a recent hydrostatic test
Goal : see financial impact
Leave To Open (LTO): The petrodynamic test happens after authorization to operate is granted
Overflow product : oil
Financial impact : earns money
Duration : as long as possible
Recommended by : ?
History: none yet for 9B, but already happened once on 6B
Information about 9B :
- evidence of wear detected resulting in 989 excavations between 2012 and 2014
- evidence of wear rose from 50 in 2004 to 250 in 2012 for the section under the Ottawa River.
National Energy Board position on this? If Enbridge proves to the Board’s satisfaction that the pipeline is safe, that there is the required level of reliability in the line, then hydrostatic testing may not be required.
