Alberta Energy Regulator issues order to ConocoPhillips Canada over pipeline failure at gas plant

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has issued an environmental protection order to ConocoPhillips Canada in response to a pipeline failure at the company’s Resthaven gas plant located 65km northeast of Grande Cache, Canada.

Further investigation revealed that condensate is present near Webb Creek.

AER said that the pipeline failure resulted in the release of about 380m³ of condensate.

As per the order, the company is required to immediately contain the release and prevent it from spreading and control access to the site.

Other actions required by the company include collection of water and soil samples from the site for analysis and also to develop a wildlife mitigation plan, detailed delineation and remediation plan.

Furthermore, the company needs to develop and submit plans for environmental remediation and public notification.

Following the event, ConocoPhillips contacted the appropriate regulatory authorities and is working with AER to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

After the pipeline failure, the company closed and isolated it, and activated its emergency response plan.

More than 150 responders have been sent to the site with equipment to contain the release and mitigate any environmental impact.

ConocoPhillips said in a statement: "We are taking steps to maintain their safety and to contain the release. There are no residents in the impacted area and no threat to public safety.

"We will conduct a full investigation into the cause of the incident when we’ve brought it to a safe conclusion and participate fully in the AER investigation."