Terrain and Geohazard Challenges to Pipelines in Canada

This chapter on terrain and geohazard challenges to pipelines in Canada is from the proceedings of an international conference on the terrain and geohazard challenges facing onshore oil and gas pipelines (June 2004, London, United Kingdom). The authors subdivide Canada into several physiographic regions for the discussion, then describe the geological conditions that distinguish each. They emphasize the regions that host producing oil and gas fields, as well as regions traversed by the major pipeline systems. The current large-diameter pipeline systems in Canada, including those connecting to the United States, are located and a forecast of major Canadian pipeline projects for the next decade is provided. The authors discuss the geohazard problems affecting onshore pipelines in Canada including landslides, subsidence, permafrost, beaver colonization, neotectonics, and karst. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the change from reactive geohazard management to a performance-based approach to risk management that includes a systematic identification and assessment of geohazards as part of the pipeline development process.