Market Snapshot: Unauthorized activities reported near pipelines in 2023 did not result in any product releases

Release date: 2024-03-06

Canada has an extensive pipeline network, including 71,000 kilometres (km) of pipeline that is regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), and a vast network of provincially regulated pipelines^Footnote 1. This integrated system of pipelines transport various commodities^Definition* from where they are produced to where they are needed. Safety is critical to the CER’s mandate to ensure energy markets are served efficiently, while protecting people and the environment. It is important that the public know where pipelines are, and that regulations exist for working safely on, or near, a pipeline^Footnote 2.

Under the Damage Prevention Regulations (DPR), pipeline companies must immediately report to the CER any activities within 30 metres of their CER-regulated pipelines, that do not follow the rules and specifications set out in the DPR. In 2023, 294 DPR contravention reports (formerly known as Reports of Unauthorized Activities) were submitted by pipeline companies compared to 296 in 2022 and 280 in 2021. Of these, 16 involved physical damage to a pipeline compared to 14 in 2022 and 14 in 2021. In 2023 and 2022 these damages did not result in the release of product whereas in 2021, one of these damages caused a release of product^Footnote 3.

Figure 1: How many CER Damage Prevention Regulations (DPR) Contravention Reports were submitted in 2023 by province?

Figure 1 illustrates the number of DPR contravention reports submitted within each province. Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta had the highest number of submitted reports. Some provinces have significantly more federally regulated pipelines than others. Per 100 km of federally regulated pipeline length, Quebec had the highest number of submitted reports with 4.4 reports per 100 km. The remaining provinces all had less than 1 submitted report per 100 km.

Figure 2: How many of these CER DPR Contravention Reports resulted in pipe damaged, by province?

Figure 2 shows the number of reports that involved physical damage to a CER regulated pipeline. Alberta had the most, 5 reports, involving physical damage to a pipeline, followed by British Columbia and Ontario with 4 each, Saskatchewan with 2, and Manitoba with 1. In Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia none of the reports involved physical damage to a pipeline.

Figure 3: CER DPR Contravention Reports Event Types, by Province

Figure 3 shows the types of events that occurred in each province. Most of the events were ground disturbances. A ground disturbance contravention happens when someone digs 30 centimetres, or more, or cultivates 45 centimetres or more, below the ground within 30 metres of a CER regulated pipeline without first getting consent from the pipeline company, or without making a locate request to a One-Call Centre. These are considered near-hit events that could have led to a more severe pipeline incident. In 2023, approximately 72% of the DPR contravention reports submitted were not preceded by a “locate request” prior to conducting activities near the right-of-way^Definition*. A locate request can be made by contacting the One-Call Centre, found at Click Before you Dig, before any ground disturbance activity begins.

Visit CER Damage Prevention for a comprehensive list of resources, and the CER’s Pipeline Profiles, which provide information on federally regulated pipelines, including safety and environment. The CER publishes an Open Government dataset containing the details on each DPR contravention report submitted.

Date modified:

2024-05-17