Lifecycle of an Enbridge pipeline
At Enbridge, the safety of people, and protection of the environment, is our top priority throughout the entire pipeline lifecycle.
In this section, you can explore that lifecycle as a step-by-step interactive journey.
PLEASE NOTE: The objects and terrain presented in this experience are not to scale.
Design and Construction
Safety and reliability are built into Enbridge’s energy infrastructure before, during and after the construction phase.We take care to limit our footprint, and actively manage potential effects on communities and the environment, as we build our pipeline projects.
Where possible, we use existing access routes to and from construction sites, minimize temporary workspace and curtail ground disturbance.
Screening and planning
It can take seven to nine years to build a pipeline. But it all begins with a need for energy.
We assess both the supply and demand for oil and energy over the long term, and carefully calculate the economic feasibility of a particular pipeline.
The Planning Process
The planning process
Planning overview
Our focus is on respecting communities and the environment. We have an unwavering commitment to safety, reliability and meeting or exceeding regulatory standards.
Community engagement
This includes roundtable discussions with municipalities, landowners and Aboriginal groups, presentations from subject-matter experts and community open houses, coffee talks and personal interactions.
Consulting with Aboriginal groups
We’re committed to providing training and employment to members of Aboriginal and Native American communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal and Native American businesses. We also consult with Aboriginal and Native American groups to potentially reroute around sensitive corridors.
Route planning considerations
We plan our projects with care. To help minimize our environmental footprint, we use pre-existing utility corridors where possible.
We comply with all environmental regulations and permits and seek oversight from trained, experienced environmental inspectors and resource specialists.
Discussions with government agencies
We work continuously with regulatory agencies and build environmental evaluations into construction planning.
The U.S. and Canada have had pipeline rules and guidelines in place for decades, resulting in two of the most highly regulated, and safest, pipeline industry environments in the world.
Depending on the project, we may use environmental field survey crews to evaluate and potentially reroute around environmentally sensitive areas.
Wildlife protection strategies include wildlife baseline studies, remote camera monitoring and winter track surveys.
Approval through regulatory agencies
An application is submitted to the appropriate agency, or agencies, to initiate the regulatory review process.
Design and construction
Safety and reliability are built into Enbridge’s energy infrastructure before, during and after the construction phase.
We take care to limit our footprint, and actively manage potential effects on communities and the environment, as we build our pipeline projects.
Field surveys and staking
Field surveys are conducted along the proposed right-of-way (ROW) to understand environmental, developmental and local issues.
Once the route is final, the location is marked with stakes.
Field surveys and staking
Field surveys are conducted along the proposed right-of-way (ROW) to understand environmental, developmental and local issues.
Once the route is final, the location is marked with stakes.
Working with Landowners
We establish project-specific biosecurity plans with the help of landowners, including making sure all of our equipment is clean and free of weeds, soil and debris.
We take measures to control and contain weeds and soil-borne pathogens, based on the level of risk at the construction site.
Clearing
To prepare for construction, crews mulch and/or clear and salvage trees, where warranted, along the ROW and temporary workspace.
Stripping and storing topsoil
We take careful consideration when removing topsoil from the ROW. For biosecurity reasons, we take special care in agricultural areas to separate and store the topsoil and subsoil so they don’t mix.
Working with landowners
We establish project-specific biosecurity plans with the help of landowners, including making sure all of our equipment is clean and free of weeds, soil and debris.
We take measures to control and contain weeds and soil-borne pathogens, based on the level of risk at the construction site.
Grading
Once topsoil has been stripped and stored to meet specifications, the subsoil along the ROW is graded to enable a safe pipeline installation.
Enhanced pipeline performance.
Pipeline Steel
The heart of our business is the pipe in the ground. Our demands for pipeline steel exceed industry standards, and we select, inspect and test our line pipe before it’s used in construction.
Learn more about our partnership with EVRAZ.
Grading
Once topsoil has been stripped and stored to meet specifications, the subsoil along the ROW is graded to enable a safe pipeline installation.
Stringing
Crews re-stake the center of the trench, and place (or “string out”) sections of the pipe along the ROW.
Bending
Crews bend the sections of pipe to match engineering specifications and follow the contours of the land.
Welding
The pipe is welded into sections, and eventually one long segment, using pipe that’s been carefully selected and tested. Each weld is inspected via either X-ray or ultrasound technology.
Coating
The entire segment of pipe, including weld joints, is coated with a robust corrosion inhibitor.
Bending
Crews bend the sections of pipe to match engineering specifications and follow the contours of the land.
Welding
The pipe is welded into sections, and eventually one long segment, using pipe that’s been carefully selected and tested. Each weld is inspected via either X-ray or ultrasound technology.
Coating
The entire segment of pipe, including weld joints, is coated with a robust corrosion inhibitor.
Lowering-in
Using multiple sidebooms, or cranes, the pipe is lowered into the trench.
Trenching
Crews use backhoes or wheel ditchers to dig the pipeline trench.
Lowering-in
Using multiple sidebooms, or cranes, the pipe is lowered into the trench.
Trenching
Crews use backhoes or wheel ditchers to dig the pipeline trench.
River crossings
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology is deployed to lay pipelines beneath large rivers or sensitive crossings.
ALSO SEE: World's longest HDD project under Mississippi River a 'mind-boggling' feat of engineering
River crossings
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology is deployed to lay pipelines beneath large rivers or sensitive crossings.
ALSO SEE: World's longest HDD project under Mississippi River a 'mind-boggling' feat of engineering
View diagram
Intelligent, remotely controlled valves.
Intelligent, remotely controlled valves
Intelligent, remotely controlled valves are placed at specific locations to reduce potential releases along our pipeline network. Enbridge's pipeline control center staff, who monitor our pipeline system 24/7/365, can close an intelligent valve immediately upon detection of a problem, with full closure within three minutes of activation.
Backfilling
The trench is carefully backfilled and compacted with subsoil.
Backfilling
The trench is carefully backfilled and compacted with subsoil.
Safety and the environment.
Safety and the environment.
This downloadable, printable infographic details the safety and reliability that are built into Enbridge's energy infrastructure--before, during and after the construction phase.
Hydrostatic Testing
Each section of pipe is filled with water and subjected to extreme operating pressures to ensure the strength of the pipe and welds.
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Cleanup and Reclamation
The ROW is restored to its original condition. Topsoil is replaced and reseeded; other restoration methods include tree planting and environmental monitoring.
Hydrostatic testing
Each section of pipe is filled with water and subjected to extreme operating pressures to ensure the strength of the pipe and welds.
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Cleanup and reclamation
The ROW is restored to its original condition. Topsoil is replaced and reseeded; other restoration methods include tree planting and environmental monitoring.
Operations and Maintenance
Once a pipeline enters service, it enjoys a very long life, through safe operations,
prevention, monitoring and maintenance activities. We work hard to meet or exceed
the strict safety and reliability standards enforced in the United States and Canada.
Preventative maintenance digs.
Maintaining pipeline fitness
Preventative maintenance digs are an important part of keeping our pipelines healthy and fit for purpose.
When our state-of-the-art in-line inspection (ILI) tools, using ultrasound or magnetic flux leakage (MFL) technology, find something that requires a closer look, we excavate the pipe at that location so we can examine it and make any necessary repairs.
Sometimes we find that no repair is required, but each of these preventative maintenance digs adds to our overall knowledge about the line’s condition.
Operations and maintenance
Once a pipeline enters service, it enjoys a very long life, through safe operations,
prevention, monitoring and maintenance activities. We work hard to meet or exceed
the strict safety and reliability standards enforced in the United States and Canada.
Safe operations, vigilance and an abundance of caution
Safety is the No. 1 priority
Every batch of oil that enters our mainline pipeline network is tested for viscosity, density, temperature, volatility and sediment-and-water content, and we strictly enforce these standards. Contrary to a myth promoted by pipeline opponents, it’s important to note that crude from Canada’s oil sands carries no internal corrosivity risk.
Intelligent Valve Placement (IVP)
IVP methodology is used to plan the safest route possible.
Monitoring
Our Pipeline Control Center monitors the entire pipeline network on a continuous, 24/7 basis, using both people and high-tech computer modelling systems.
Computers constantly monitor pressure, temperature and other key data from thousands of points along our pipeline network.
Pipeline monitoring. We use multiple methods in monitoring our pipelines, each with a different focus and using different technology. These methods include:
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). This technology monitors for pressure drops, vapor concentrations, equipment vibration levels, and other operational changes that may indicate a leak.
Regular, computer-based confirmation. We check that the volumes of crude oil entering our system precisely match the volumes delivered.
Eyes in the sky. We regularly scan all of our 27,000 km (17,000 miles) of our pipeline corridors, using dedicated aircraft and helicopters.
Boots on the ground. We conduct foot patrols along all our pipeline corridors. Trained staff watch for, report and respond to potential problems.
Prevention
Prevention is key. We make sure to keep our pipelines healthy and fit for purpose from the inside out.
Since 2012, we’ve spent $3.78 billion on maintenance, inspection and leak detection across our crude oil pipeline network.
We use leading-edge technology to seek out and eliminate any potential issues with our pipelines before they become a problem.
Internal inspections
Our state-of-the-art in-line inspection (ILI) tools use imaging technology (similar to an MRI in the medical industry) to scan our pipelines inch by inch.
SmartBall technology, with bowling-ball-sized sensors, travel inside our pipes, detect tiny leaks and mark their location.
Innovation
We're constantly testing commercially available technologies, and looking for opportunities to enhance existing technologies, in the areas of design, prevention, monitoring and leak detection to keep our pipelines safe.
We've led industry partnerships to test innovative leak detection methods, including vapour-sensing tubes, fibre-optic cables, and hydrocarbon-sensing cables.
Preventative maintenance digs
When an in-line inspection finds something that requires a closer look, we excavate the pipe at that location so we can examine it and make any necessary repairs.
Sometimes we find that no repair is required, but each of these preventative maintenance digs adds to our overall knowledge about the line's condition.
Cathodic protection
We use cathodic protection on our pipelines—that’s the application of low-voltage electrical current—to protect the pipe from external corrosion.
Emergency response
We hope we never have to respond to a pipeline incident – but if we do, we’re ready. In the unlikely event of a leak, we maintain strong emergency preparedness and response systems that we regularly test, and continuously improve, alongside first responders, emergency management officials, and law enforcement.
Since 2012, we've invested more than $74 million in equipment and training to improve our overall emergency preparedness and response capacity.
In 2014, we held 371 drills, exercises, and equipment deployments across North America to boost our emergency response preparedness.
Public awareness
Third-party damage is one of the leading causes of pipelines leaks.
We keep in constant communication with neighbouring communities to ensure they stay safe and avoid accidentally damaging to our pipelines.
Working with authorities
We work closely with municipal officials and first responders near our pipelines to maintain close relationships.
Emergency Responder Education Program
We give emergency responders and 9-1-1 call center personnel free, unlimited access to online training designed to help them respond safely and effectively to any pipeline emergency.
Emergency Response Ambassadors
We’ve developed this in-person outreach program in the U.S. to provide further support by developing meaningful and lasting relationships with first response organizations.
We maintain a positive working relationship with regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Canada. We are dedicated to meeting or exceeding regulatory demands to help ensure the safety and reliability standards that communities expect.
Decommissioning
Landowners are not responsible for Enbridge's decommissioned or deactivated pipelines. We are—forever.
View our Decommissioning PDFSafety
Now that you've explored what we do to safely plan, build, operate and maintain our pipelines, you may want to explore all of the ways Enbridge works to ensure safety for our communities across our facilities and operations.
LEARN MOREDecommissioning (Canada)/Deactivation (U.S.)
Landowners are not responsible for Enbridge's decommissioned or deactivated pipelines. We are—forever.
View our Decommissioning PDFOur responsibility
We remove any oil from the line, wipe and clean the walls, and physically disconnect the pipeline from our network.
Continuous monitoring
We continue to monitor decommissioned or deactivated pipelines, just as we do with active pipelines. This includes:
- Cathodic protection to curb corrosion.
- Maintaining the corridor, signage and contact info.
- Maintaining the pipeline’s profile for Call/Click Before You Dig programs.
Minimizing impacts
Decommissioned or deactivated pipelines are left in place to minimize the effect on communities and the environment.
Long-term stability
A decommissioned or deactivated pipeline has a very long remaining life as a load-bearing structure. This reduces the risk of soil stability issues, and avoids major construction activities required to remove the pipe.
Now that you've explored what we do to safely plan, build, operate and maintain our pipelines, you may want to explore all of the ways Enbridge works to ensure safety for our communities across our facilities and operations.
LEARN MORE
