Safety Around Pipelines

Pipelines are a safe and efficient means of transporting large quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids.

Pembina’s pipelines and facilities are designed, constructed, and operated in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

We know that maintaining the integrity of our pipelines is essential to the health and safety of the communities in which we operate. A commitment to safety is a shared responsibility between us and all our stakeholders, including the digging community.

We conduct regular inspections, maintenance, and testing to confirm that our pipelines are operating safely. We monitor the operating conditions of the pipeline through sensors 24/7/365 from our state-of-the-art control room. We conduct aerial and ground inspections to ensure our systems are operating safely and to identify unsafe or unauthorized activity which could damage the pipe or impact safe operations.

We reinforce our commitment to excellence in safety in our daily operations by developing stringent standards and reviewing potential hazards, in addition to conducting regular safety meetings, contractor screenings, and inspections.

A pipeline Right-of-Way (ROW) is the strip of land where the pipeline is located. The width of the right-of-way may vary depending on factors such as pipeline diameter or the number of pipelines in an area. The area extending 30 meters (100 feet) on either side of the pipeline is called the Prescribed Area / Controlled Area. Right-of-way corridors are sometimes recognizable because they are clear of trees, buildings and other structures. The corridor enables Pembina employees and contractors to access the pipeline for operations, inspections, maintenance, testing, and in the rare event of an emergency. Regulations restrict certain activities near the right-of way that could pose a threat to public safety and the safe operation of the pipeline.

Pipeline markers are located along the pipeline ROW. Note that more than one pipeline can share a ROW. Markers identify the area, but not the exact location or depth of the pipeline. They also specify the product transported, the operator’s name and emergency contact number. Only a Pembina representative can identify the exact location of the pipeline.

If you notice any unusual or suspicious activity on or near the pipeline ROW, please report it by calling 9-1-1 and Pembina’s 24-hour emergency number 1-800-360-4706.

Planning work around Pembina's pipelines

Some of the biggest threats to pipeline safety come from unauthorized construction, development, encroachment and digging activities. Notifying Pembina and your local One-Call Centre are your first steps to preventing damage to underground infrastructure and working safely around pipelines.

Written consent from Pembina must be received before any of the following activities can occur:

Construction of a facility across, on, along, or under a pipeline (including the ROW)
Ground disturbance activities (excavation or digging) within the Prescribed Area / Controlled Area or 30 meters (100 feet) on either side of the centerline of the pipeline
Operation of a vehicle or mobile equipment across a ROW, outside the travelled portion of a highway or public road
Using explosives within 300 meters (1,000 feet) of Pembina’s pipeline ROW
Any activity that the company deems may negatively impact the safety of the pipeline

Always have a copy of your agreement onsite. It informs us of your activity and allows us to provide guidance to prevent incidents or damage to our pipelines.

Email [email protected] with your name, legal land description, and a description of the work you would like to do.
Pembina will contact you and walk you through how to submit a request for permission to proceed with your activity in, along or adjacent to the ROW.
Pembina will review your request once your information has been received. Pembina may:
- Grant consent with standard conditions; or
- Grant consent that requires specific conditions be met to ensure safety; or
- Work with you to find solutions and resolve issues regarding the consent request; or
- deny consent in the rare situation that a feasible safety solution cannot be found.
Once consent has been granted, you must:
- Make a locate request to your local One-Call Centre at least three business days before beginning the work. Pembina will arrange for a Company representative to be on site to inspect the area at time of crossing.
- Always keep the written consent and documentation onsite.
- Follow all terms and conditions laid out in the consent, and all instructions from Pembina personnel onsite.

If you have additional questions, please contact Pembina at 403-231-7500 or toll free at 1-888-428-3222 and we will work with you to address your needs.

Ground Disturbance is any work, operation or activity that results in the disturbance of the earth. These activities include but are not limited to:

Tree planting	Auguring
Building a fence or pounding in posts	Topsoil stripping, levelling, grading
Excavating, trenching, digging	Quarrying, seismic exploration, blasting
Plowing or tilling	Installing drain tiles
Tunnelling, boring, drilling	Ditching

Depth of cover (DOC) is the vertical distance between the top of the pipeline and the surface of the ground. It is crucial for protecting both the pipeline and the interests of landowners. Adequate depth ensures the pipeline is shielded from surface activities like agricultural activity, construction, or heavy equipment traffic, reducing the risk of accidental damage and potential safety hazards.

Any ground disturbance or non-agricultural activity will affect the DOC over the pipeline and must have a One-Call or Crossing Agreement in place before you can proceed with your activity.

If you are aware of areas where DOC has changed due to erosion, construction activities, or farming practices, please contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-920-1979.

Farmers and ranchers play an important role in protecting pipelines from damage and must contact the local One-Call center before conducting any soil disturbing activities that are not considered an agricultural activity.

What is agricultural activity?

Agricultural activities include the production of crops and raising of animals, such as tillage, plowing, disking, harrowing and pasturing.

Assessed agricultural activities require notification via One-Call and written consent from Pembina. Agricultural activities are permitted on or near a pipeline ROW if:

• The vehicle or equipment complies with the manufacturer’s approved weight and tire pressure limits.

• Pembina has not issued a notice restricting crossing at that location. Cultivation depth is 45 cm (18 in) or less

Written consent from Pembina and a One-Call Notification are required for all non-agricultural activities and agricultural activities (that fail to meet one or more of the above guidelines) within or across the ROW and within Prescribed / Controlled Areas. All non-agricultural activities require a One-Call placement. Note that heavy rains, floods, and droughts can affect the soil above buried pipelines.

If you spot soil erosion or displaced soil along a ROW, please contact Pembina immediately.

Unless defined as an agricultural activity, crossing the pipeline with a vehicle or mobile equipment (outside of a travelled portion of a highway or public road) must have Pembina’s written consent to do so. Pembina will determine if the vehicle is safe to cross our pipelines. Once we've evaluated the request and confirmed whether or not the vehicle may cross safely, we will provide the necessary written consent or work with you on modifications as required. If landowners are unsure if their agricultural activity meets the definition, or if the agricultural activity could jeopardize the safe and secure operation of the pipeline, please contact Pembina before crossing or performing any ground disturbance work.

If you are planning to improve drainage across or within the ROW, you must consult with us first. Excavation greater than 30 centimeters in depth within the Prescribed / Controlled Area require consent from Pembina. Consulting with us as early as possible regarding your drainage proposal, including installing drain tiles, ditching, grading or deep tilling, will allow us to assess your work and set safe work procedures when working within the pipeline ROW. For installations across the ROW, written consent is required.

Call Before You Dig

You can access the nearest One-Call Centre to make a locate request anywhere in Canada at: clickbeforeyoudig.com.

Allow Required Time for Marking

Three (3) business days across Canada except Ontario which is five (5) business days

Respect the Marks

Lines are marked by flags, paint or other markers (normally yellow for pipelines)

Excavate Carefully

Hand dig to determine exact location of a pipeline. A Pembina representative must be present.

The coloured flags or paint you will see once the lines have been located mark the location and type of underground utility:

White – proposed excavation
Pink – temporary survey markings
Red – electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables
Yellow – gas, oil, steam, petroleum or gaseous material
Orange – communication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit
Blue – potable water
Purple – reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines
Green – sewers and drain lines

What to do if you strike a pipeline

Whether it appears there is damage or not, follow these steps:

Stop all excavation and construction work and move away from the area on foot; let others know to do the same
Shut off all equipment and machinery
Call 9-1-1 first as soon as you are in a safe location
After you call 9-1-1, call Pembina’s emergency number 1-800-360-4706, Alliance (US & Canada) 1-800-884-8811 and explain the situation
Do NOT attempt to operate any valves
Do NOT begin work again until a Pembina representative authorized you to do so

If you suspect a release

In the unlikely event of an emergency, Pembina will immediately shut down the pipeline if necessary and activate our Emergency Response plan.

If you recognize any of the warning signs:

abandon any mechanized equipment and move as far away from the leak as possible, avoiding contact with escaping liquids and gases
call 9-1-1 first
after you call 9-1-1, call Pembina’s emergency line that you see on a pipeline marker
follow instructions provided to you by Pembina and local emergency responders

What you shouldn’t do

do not touch or go near any liquid, gas or vapor cloud
do not start your vehicle or any equipment that could be a potential ignition source
do not smoke or light a match, and avoid heating sources or making sparks
do not turn on or off anything that may create a spark, including cell phones, pagers, flashlights, keyless entry remotes, vehicle alarms, and light switches, until you are in a safe location
do not attempt to operate or turn pipeline valves
do not attempt to extinguish any flames or fires

If you notice any unusual or suspicious activity on or near the ROW, please report it by calling 9-1-1 first, followed by Pembina’s 24-hour emergency number 1-800-360-4706. Alliance (US & Canada) 1-800-884-8811.

Pipeline Safety - Canada

What to Do in Case of Damaging/ Disturbing a Pipeline?