Rainbow Pipeline Leak — A Timeline

Posted on: Saturday, May 7, 2011
Posted at: 12:30 PM

 
 
          NOTICE:
 
 

          THERE WAS NO NATIONAL COVERAGE
 
 
          OF THE RAINBOW PIPELINE LEAK
 
 
          BETWEEN APRIL 29 – MAY 2, 2011.
 
 
          Why did it take 4 days before the public was informed?

 
 
 
April 29

• Alberta media told by Plains Midstream Canada that there had been a Rainbow pipeline leak, 100 km NE of Peace River, Alberta; Alberta media told by Plains Midstream Canada that only a few hundred barrels of oil had leaked.
• Alberta media told by Plains Midstream Canada that they are working with the Energy Resources Conservation Board, the Province of Alberta’s Ministry of Environment and other appropriate agencies concerning its clean-up efforts.
• Alberta media told by Plains Midstream Canada that environmental assessment staff, oil spill response specialists, monitoring equipment, etc. mobilized.
• Lubicon Cree First Nation residents of the nearby community of Little Buffalo report headaches, nausea and burning eyes, before local media reports on Rainbow Pipeline leak.

May 3

• Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board, the provincial energy regulator, reports 28,000 barrels (4.5 million litres) of crude oil has spilled, making it the largest Alberta pipeline discharge in 36 years.
• Energy Resources Conservation Board to inspect failed pipe section; Third party laboratory to analyze failed pipe section, after Energy Resources Conservation Board’s inspection.
• CBC News Ticker: Crews cleaning up 28,000 barrels of oil spilled NE of Peace River, Alberta.
• CBC News Ticker: Alberta oil spill behind illnesses, First Nation says.
• CBC News Ticker: Energy Resources Conservation Board denies largest oil spill in 35 years making First Nation sick.

May 4

• Lubicon Cree First Nation officials meet with Plains Midstream Canada representatives.
• Lubicon Cree First Nation officials told the oil spill should be contained by the weekend.
• Davis Sheremata of the Energy Resources Conservation Board says the Energy Resources Conservation Board last inspected the entire Rainbow Pipeline in 2009 with an ultrasonic tool to look for cracks.
• The Province of Alberta’s Environment Minister opts not to visit the oil spill site or the 300 members of the Lubicon Cree First Nation residents of the nearby community of Little Buffalo.

May 5

• Plains Midstream Canada Vice President reads a prepared statement to media and takes no questions from reporters. [ Video ]
• Plains Midstream Canada Vice President says that the oil spill does not pose a health threat to the Lubicon Cree First Nation.
• Plains Midstream Canada Vice President says that no negative health effects have been reported by clean-up workers.
• Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach criticizes Plains Midstream Canada’s communications with the Lubicon Cree First Nation, and with the public in general.
• Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says there is no reason to send Alberta’s Environment Minister to the clean-up site.
• Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says this is not a political issue, it’s a serious matter with respect to public safety.

May 6

• Plains Midstream Canada says the break had been repaired and awaiting regulatory approval to restart.
• Davis Sheremata of the Energy Resources Conservation Board said regulators have not completed their inspection and assessment of the pipeline.
• Plains Midstream Canada apologizes for its handling of communications about the incident.
• Plains Midstream Canada estimates the clean-up will take two to four months.
• Elizabeth May calls for an immediate investigation and serious consequences; criticizes the lack of information provided to the public. [ Press Release ]

May 7

• Plains Midstream Canada sets up security checkpoint on Lubicon Cree First Nation land to prohibit photos of wetland contamination and wilderness devastation caused by oil spill.
• Plains Midstream Canada says poor soil excavation — specifically improper soil compaction — in 2010 may have caused stress to the Rainbow Pipeline.
• Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made no statement regarding the Rainbow Pipeline leak or the 300 members of the Lubicon Cree First Nation residents of the nearby community of Little Buffalo.
• CBC News Ticker: 25% of oil recovered from the Rainbow Pipeline leak.
• CBC News Ticker: Alberta’s Environment Minister says Lubicon Cree First Nation are satisfied with clean-up operations.
• Davis Sheremata of the Energy Resources Conservation Board says data collected from the tests will help determine if the rupture points to a systemic problem with the Rainbow Pipeline.

 
 
 
Updates:

May 8

• The Province of Alberta’s Environment Minister says he toured the oil spill site the day before; apologizes to Lubicon Cree First Nation for lack of communication about the incident.
• The Province of Alberta’s Environment Minister says Plains Midstream Canada has done a very good job of containing the spill.
• The Province of Alberta’s Environment Minister says, “We don’t spend a great deal of time concerning ourselves with other jurisdictions’ regulations.”
• The Province of Alberta’s Environment Minister says, “Our focus is on whether or not companies are following Alberta’s regulations, and that’s the responsibility of the Energy Resources Conservation Board.”

May 9

• The town of Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, has declared a State of Emergency because its natural gas supply could be cut off if the Rainbow Pipeline is not running again soon.
• Elizabeth May says Plains All American Pipeline — the parent company of Plains Midstream Canada — has “an atrocious record” in the USA.
• Elizabeth May notes that Plains All American Pipeline has been forced to spend more than $40M on pipeline upgrades after 10 separate oil spills in the USA.
• Elizabeth May also suggests that someone may have kept the oil spill a secret until after the 2011 Canadian federal election held on Monday, May 2. [ Article ]
• APTN News: The Province of Alberta waited 5 hours before telling Lubicon Cree First Nation chief of oil spill. [ Video ]
• APTN News: First Nations leaders in the Northwest Territories fear that the people living down-stream from the oil spill site could be impacted. [ Video ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says approximately a ⅓ of the 28,000 barrels spilled onto Boréal Forest lands have been collected and will be processed off-site.
• Plains Midstream Canada says the damaged portion of the Rainbow Pipeline has been repaired, and the company has applied to restart the entire line.
• Davis Sheremata of the Energy Resources Conservation Board says, “In terms of the timing of the restart application, that is still under review.”

May 10

• Lubicon Cree First Nation residents with school-aged children were notified by the Province of Alberta that the school in Little Buffalo will be re-opened.
• The Energy Resources Conservation Board said in a news release that results of air-quality monitoring inside the school indicate levels are below the guidelines set by Health Canada. [ Press Release ]
• Plains Midstream Canada has extended invitations to the media to tour the Rainbow Pipeline leak site. [ Web Updates ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says 30% of oil recovered from the Rainbow Pipeline leak.

May 11

• Plains Midstream Canada has temporarily suspended clean-up operations at the Rainbow Pipeline leak site after receiving an unidentified call for help on the workers’ radio system at 9:30AM (MST). [ Media Release ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says clean-up work is scheduled to restart tomorrow morning at 7:00AM (MST). [ Media Release ]

May 12

• Plains Midstream Canada says 24-hour security and wildlife patrols continue.
Plains Midstream Canada says 33% of oil recovered from the Rainbow Pipeline leak.
• Plains Midstream Canada insists the clean-up will return the wetland to its natural state.
• Well-known environmental expert, David Schindler, has dismissed the idea the area will ever be completely restored.
• David Schindler says, “Wetlands of that sort are not restorable and take thousands of years to develop.” [ Article ]
• David Schindler says, “No matter how thorough the cleaning is, there will be occasions when oil slicks and perhaps tar balls appear on the surface of any water remaining in the area.” [ Article ]

May 13

• Plains Midstream Canada says the clean-up is going well.
• Plains Midstream Canada has spent $11M on clean-up efforts.
• Energy Resources Conservation Board has still not given Plains Midstream Canada the go-ahead to restart the Rainbow Pipeline.
• ATCO Energy Services shipped a propane unit aboard a Hercules aircraft to the town of Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, which has been running out of natural gas (for heating and cooking) while waiting for the Rainbow Pipeline to restart.

May 14

• Plains Midstream Canada says 37% of oil recovered from the Rainbow Pipeline leak. [ Web Updates ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says it has found no reason to change its pipeline repair practices after the Rainbow Pipeline leak. [ Article ]
• The Province of Alberta’s Energy Minister says the Energy Resources Conservation Board should “become independent from the Alberta government in the area of regulation and take over duties of other public agencies paid 100% by the Alberta government.” [ Article ]

May 15

• Wildfires are responsible for the evacuation of the Plains Midstream Canada’s Rainbow pipeline leak site. [ Article ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says clean-up operations will resume once the evacuation order is lifted by the Northern Sunrise County Emergency Response Centre. [ Web Updates ]

May 16

• The Northern Sunrise County Council declared a local state of emergency for the areas around Little Buffalo and Marten Lake due to the wildfires. [ Press Release ]
• The communities of Little Buffalo and Marten Lake were asked to voluntarily evacuate because of heavy smoke blowing into the areas.
• Melina Laboucan Massimo of the Lubicon Cree — and a member of Greenpeace Canada — writes: “Fears and concerns are mounting in the Little Buffalo community and both levels of government seem to be missing in action in dealing with this serious situation.” [ Blog Statement ]
• The wildfire threatening the Rainbow Pipeline leak site is approximately 1 km wide and 17 km long. [ Article ]
• Winds in the area are gusting at about 80 km/h and the wildfire is spreading at a rate of about 1 km/h and rapidly approaching nearby hamlets and the Rainbow Pipeline leak site. [ Article ]
• Plains Midstream Canada’s Rainbow Pipeline clean-up operations remain suspended, as Northern Sunrise County evacuation order remains in effect.
• Plains Midstream Canada says they are in regular communication with the Northern Sunrise Country Emergency Operations Centre and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

May 17

• Plains Midstream Canada says Rainbow Pipeline clean-up operations will resume once the Northern Sunrise County evacuation order is lifted.
• Once the Northern Sunrise County evacuation order is lifted, Plains Midstream Canada says it will reassess the Rainbow Pipeline leak site, and re-mobilize its clean-up efforts.
• APTN News: The Lubicon Cree First Nation reports that smoke from the wildfire in the Peace River area has already reached the Little Buffalo community.
• APTN News: Elders, children, women and those members of the Lubicon Cree First Nation with health difficulties are leaving the Little Buffalo community and the surrounding area. [ Article ]
• Melina Laboucan Massimo of the Lubicon Cree — and a member of Greenpeace Canada — says if the wildfires were to ignite the Rainbow Pipeline leak site there would be “a whole host of problems related to toxins being further released from the oil spill, as well as the inability to put the fire out.” [ Article ]
• The Peace River area — 100 km SW of the Rainbow Pipeline leak site — is expected to receive a considerable amount of rain over the next few days, which will help to extinguish the wildfires. [ Article ]
• The Energy Resources Conservation Board says Plains Midstream Canada must conduct more inspections of the Rainbow Pipeline before it is allowed to resume operations. [ Article ]
• The Energy Resources Conservation Board wants Plains Midstream Canada to submit a comprehensive plan for inspections along the Rainbow Pipeline.

May 18

• Due to the continued evacuation order from Northern Sunrise County, Plains Midstream Canada’s clean-up operations remain suspended. [ Web Updates ]
• Northern Sunrise County says fire fighters will begin attacking a wildfire approximately 35 km SE of Little Buffalo. [ Press Release ]
• Alberta Health Services has issued an air quality advisory for Peace River and the surrounding areas due to air quality deterioration caused by wildfires burning in the local area.
• The Peace River area — 100 km SW of the Rainbow Pipeline leak site — is expected to receive some rain today and tomorrow, which may help to extinguish wildfires and/or improve air quality.
• To date, Plains Midstream Canada has identified three contributing factors: the presence of a stress riser, differential soil settlement, and excessive stress at the bottom of the Rainbow Pipeline leak site.
• As a result of the identification of these contributing factors, the Energy Resources Conservation Board requires Plains Midstream Canada to expedite a dig program to examine other sections of the Rainbow Pipeline to determine its integrity.
• The Energy Resources Conservation Board said in a news release that further investigation is required as a result of a small crack near a weld-on sleeve about 25 km downstream from the original failure point during a routine inspection. [ Press Release ]
• The Energy Resources Conservation Board said it will only consider approving the resumption of operations when it is confident the Rainbow Pipeline can be safely returned to operation and operate within all regulatory requirements.

May 19

• Plains Midstream Canada says they continue to monitor the wildfire situation through regular contact with the Northern Sunrise County Emergency Operations Centre and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. [ Web Updates ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says they received approval from the Northern Sunrise County Emergency Operations Centre to visit the Rainbow Pipeline leak site yesterday afternoon to conduct a brief visit to assess and examine the containment status.
• Plains Midstream Canada says the Rainbow Pipeline leak site was inspected and the oil spill remains contained.
• Plains Midstream Canada says they anticipate clean-up operations at the Rainbow Pipeline leak site will resume Tuesday, May 24, 2011 — pending appropriate conditions.
• The Northern Sunrise County Council says they will be issuing another statement Friday, May 20, 2011 by 2PM MT to update the status of the state of local emergency and evacuation advisories in Northern Sunrise County. [ Press Release ]
• The Energy Resources Conservation Board and the Province of Alberta have launched an enhanced, toll-free information line. This new toll-free line will act as a single point of contact for all of the Province of Alberta’s oil and gas related inquiries. [ Article ]

May 20

• The Northern Sunrise County Emergency Response Centre has removed the evacuation advisory for the residents of Little Buffalo and surrounding area, effective immediately. The State of Local Emergency will remain in effect and will be re-assessed on the morning of Sunday, May 22, 2011. [ Press Release ]
• Smoke from wildfires still blanket Little Buffalo and air quality remains very low. Lubicon Cree First Nation residents who have evacuated are urged to remain outside of the area until the situation has been stabilized. [ Lubicon Information ]
• Wildfires have caused power outages throughout northern Alberta, adding to the uncertainty over when pipelines and oilfields fed by the downed power lines will be able to resume service. [ Article ]
• ATCO has declined to give any sense of how long it might take to fix the downed power lines in northern Alberta. [ Article ]
• Companies confirm that more than 100,000 barrels of daily oil production (or 5% of overall output) have been temporarily halted due to lack of storage. [ Article ]
• Companies such as Cenovus Energy Inc, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and Penn West Exploration have either stopped production or slowed it to a trickle as storage tanks filled up. [ Article ]
• Shell Canada says, “If the Rainbow Pipeline does not re-open, we expect our storage will be full this afternoon and we will have to completely stop production.” [ Article ]
• Enbridge Inc. says, “If the Rainbow Pipeline is not restarted, we will not be able to resume full operations.” [ Article ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says they are preparing to initiate clean-up operations on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. [ Web Updates ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says they have been advised that it could take up to two weeks (or longer) to fix the downed power lines and restore power to the area.

May 21

• The Northern Sunrise County Council has lifted the evacuation order for the Rainbow Pipeline leak site. [ Press Release ]
• The Peace River area — 100 km SW of the Rainbow Pipeline leak site — will receive a considerable amount of rain this weekend. [ Weather Forecast ]
• It is unclear if the Rainbow Pipeline leak site has received any rain; however, rain has poured over much of the Lubicon Cree First Nation territory this weekend.
• The effects the rain has on the wildfires burning in the Lubicon Cree First Nation territory will be reported as soon as information is available. [ Lubicon Information ]
• Smoke from wildfires are increasingly blowing into the Lubicon Cree First Nation community of Little Buffalo and air quality remains very low and poses a continued risk to sensitive residents. Those residents that have been evacuated are asked to remain away from the community for the time being.
• Plains Midstream Canada has been asked to maintain regular contact with the Northern Sunrise Country Emergency Operations Centre and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development regarding any and/or all wildfire activity.

May 22

• Rains within the Lubicon Cree First Nation territory yesterday were helpful in staving off wildfires that continue to threaten the area. [ Lubicon Information ]
• The Northern Sunrise County Council has adopted a motion to allow the State of Local Emergency to lapse on Sunday, May 22 at 12:30PM. [ Press Release ]
• The nearby community of Little Buffalo is forecast to receive rain today and tomorrow — it is unclear if the Rainbow Pipeline leak site has received, or will receive any rain. [ Weather Forecast ]
• There is a concern that “production will not resume on the 187,000 barrel/day Rainbow Pipeline for several weeks to months.” [ Article ]

May 23

• In a telephone interview, Plains Midstream Canada says they may restart the portion of the Rainbow Pipeline — from Nipisi to Edmonton, Alberta — today. [ Article ]
• Plains Midstream Canada says a small crew is readying the Rainbow Pipeline leak site for a safe return to full clean-up operations; on-site work will continue to scale up and full-scale clean-up operations are expected to resume on Wednesday, May 25, 2011. [ Web Updates ]
• Firefighting endeavours combined with favourable weather have reduced the smoke cover and risk of fire to the community of Little Buffalo. The Lubicon Cree First Nation says that residents may begin returning to their homes tomorrow without fear for their safety. The wildfire situation around Little Buffalo will continue to be monitored by the Lubicon Cree First Nation until they are completely extinguished. [ Lubicon Information ]

 
 
 
FYI:

• The Rainbow Pipeline was built in 1965 and runs from Zama, Alberta to Edmonton, Alberta.
• In 2006, 7,500 barrels leaked from the Rainbow Pipeline; an investigation determined the causes were related to its age.
• Plains Midstream Canada purchased the Rainbow Pipeline from Imperial Oil in 2008.
• Plains Midstream Canada is a subsidiary of Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline, with pipelines and crude oil storage facilities throughout the Province of Alberta.
• Plains Midstream Canada says crack detection test conducted in January and April of 2011.

2011-05-07  »  somecanuckchick