“Are pipeline companies ready for an emergency?”
This is a question we hear a lot from Canadians – and rightly so. Although emergencies are rare for Canada’s transmission pipelines, CEPA members are focused on being prepared for quick, effective response.
Prepare and practice
Some of the ways all transmission pipeline companies prepare for emergencies include:
- Having current, detailed emergency response plans for each pipeline.
- Keeping specialized emergency response equipment at strategic locations.
- Holding regular emergency response exercises.
335 emergency response exercises – that’s almost one a day!
If you’d like to know more, there’s plenty of information on our website:
- Read about the up-to-date emergency response plans required for each pipeline.
- Check out these videos for a tour of the specialized equipment pipeline companies use in the event of a spill.
- Find out about the Mutual Emergency Assistance Agreement, in which CEPA member companies have committed to sharing personnel, equipment, resources and expertise with each other in the event of a spill.
You can also read more about emergency preparedness in this fact sheet: ‘How can I trust that pipeline companies are fully prepared for an emergency?’.
Keep sending us your questions and we’ll answer them in our ongoing ‘Picture this’ blog series.
The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association represents Canada’s transmission pipeline companies who operate approximately 117,000 kilometres of pipelines in Canada. In 2014, these energy highways moved approximately 1.2 billion barrels of liquid petroleum products and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Our members transport 97 per cent of Canada’s daily natural gas and onshore crude oil from producing regions to markets throughout North America.