Pipeline awareness

Question 1

What is the purpose of pipeline awareness and sour gas H2S hazards?

Answer 1

To increase safety on the fireline and mitigating potential damage to oil and gas infrastructure

Question 2

What is a pipeline?

Answer 2

Oil and gas infrastructure that is regarded as one of the safest ways to transport large volumes of natural gas, crude oil and other materials

Question 3

Why does pipeline awareness matter?

Answer 3

While the highest concentration of pipelines are found in Northern BC, pipelines are found everywhere throughout the province

Question 4

Why does pipeline awareness matter?

Answer 4

Knowledge of pipelines and crossing procedures improves your fireline situational awareness and help avoid injury to staff and costly damage to pipelines

Question 5

What are seismic lines?

Answer 5

Seismic lines are linear narrow corridors cut through the forest for oil and gas exploration

Question 6

What are seismic lines used for?

Answer 6

Seismic lines are generally used to facilitate the deployment of geophysical survey equipment. It is never guaranteed that they are free of pipelines.

Question 7

How can you identify pipelines?

Answer 7

Pipeline identification signs include information about the type of pipeline, pipeline company owner and emergency contact number.

Question 8

What is a pipeline ROW?

Answer 8

A pipeline Right of Way is a strip of land of varying widths that can contain one of more pipelines.

Question 9

What are 3 pipelines hazard?

Answer 9

1. Combustibility - While considered one of the safest ways to transport oil & gas, pipelines are high pressured & can be combustible if hit with heavy equipment. We NEVER dig or disrupt the ground on top of a pipeline ROW or within 10m of a pipeline identifications sign.
2. Visibility - Pipelines are not always visible. For example, gas lines are buried anywhere between 1-3m deep. They also vary in size from 1” to 42”
3. Mitigating hazards - Utilizing the information on Pipeline signs to contact the oil & gas company is always the first step in mitigating hazards of working near pipelines.

Question 10

What is the protocol for working near pipelines?

Answer 10

1. Inform all necessary parties - Always inform your supervisor, the energy company, the ZWCO & IC
   1a) If you find pipeline signs in the area, always call the pipeline company to receive directions on how to proceed and safely work in the area
2. Adhere to industry signs - Alwayz look for pipeline identification signs especially when working in northern BC
3. Never construct control lines over a pipeline or within 10m of one without consulting the pipeline company
4. Once approved by the company representative, only cross a ROW as directed, never travel along it with heavy equpiment
5. It is advised to cross at a 90 degree angle to the pipeline with blade and ripper up

Question 11

What do you do if you’re unsure of who owns the oil & gas infrastructure in the area?

Answer 11

You call BC One Call (In your phone) and provide the coordinates to them to help aid in determining who’s pipeline or facility you’re nearby.

Question 12

What factors may contribute to a near miss of a pipeline?

Answer 12

1. Poor visibility due to smoke from recent burn ops and slash
2. Slash fuel type
3. Location of pipeline within the ROW

Question 13

What do you do if crossing a pipeline ROW is not an option?

Answer 13

You shoulder consider the following:
1. If you can work the guard from the other side and if road access allows equipment to be transported around the pipeline.
2 If you can go with a different plan (i.e. a bigger box) that doesn’t require pipeline crossing.

Question 14

What are 3 important considerations that fire crews must consider in relation to oil and gas infrastructure?

Answer 14

1. Oil and gas infrastructure locations need to be identified prior to beginning work with heavy equipment and this information must be passed on to ground crews
   - This means contacting the pipeline companies prior to beginning work
   - Providing ground crews with maps clearly showing pipeline ROWs
2. All personnel should receive the H2S briefing as part of their annual recurrency training in the spring
3. While working in proximity to oil and gas installations and ingrastructure, greater awareness needs to be given to supervisor experiecne by fire cnetres, zones, IMTs and the supervisors themselves. If a supervisor has limited experience in this area, they need to request help, and that support must be provided.

Question 15

What things do you need to consider when being around well sites?

Answer 15

One of the biggest things you can use is the lease entrance sign. It’ll tell you who owns it, the emergency number, the physical location. It will also have warning diamonds that alert you to the hazards

Question 16

Can H2S be fatal?

Answer 16

H2S can be fatal when exposure occurs at high enough concentrations, such as in confined spaces or with a ruptured pipeline.

Question 17

*Insert picture of warning signs (hazard diamonds)

Answer 17

8Write corresponding hazard for signs

Question 18

What can you do on the rare chance of a H2S exposure risk?

Answer 18

Move upwind if the release is downwind of you. Move crosswind if the release is upwind.

Question 19

Who can advise of any H2S hazards?

Answer 19

An industry representative

Question 20

What is H2S gas?

Answer 20

H2S is a naturally occurring toxic gas. At low concentrations it smells like rotten eggs. It is water soluble and in its pure state, heavier than air.

Question 21

What is one of the most prominent potential hazards from the oil & gas industry?

Answer 21

Exposure to H2S gas

Question 22

What are Geophysical Operations?

Answer 22

All work sites and facilities involved in the exploration, acquisition, processing, and transporation of oil and gas.

Question 23

What is a well site?

Answer 23

A square clearing (approx. 1 ha) where a rig is used for drilling for oil or gas.

Question 24

What is a Seismic Line?

Answer 24

A 4-7m wide cleared trail of variable length, where explosive charges are detonated or other methods are used to determine underground formations.

Question 25

What is the protocol for working in proximity to H2S gas?

Answer 25

1. Understand and respect H2S
2. Workers will be educated on H2S and Geophysical Operations Awareness
3. Workers approaching a fire adjacent to a geophysical operation will identify the type of operation or facility, and communicate this to the Regional Wildfire Coordination Officer, before commencing fire suppression.
4. If the site is a facility or structure, the access or entrance road will be checked for a sign indicating ownership, type and location. This information will also be passed on to the RWCO.
5. Any site that has the potential to expose workers to H2S will be treated as if it were a ‘sour gas’ site until determined or notified otherwise.
6. If it is determined that the fire is in a location that could expose personnel to H2S, the fire should not be directly attacked, an an alternative suppression strategy should be developed in conjunction with the RWCO and the local Zone Wildfire Coordination Officer (ZWCO)
7. While assessing the site, workers will stay upwind, and not fly within 100m of the site or structure.
8. Professional personnel will be brought in to determine the size, source, and detailed location of a contaminated area.
9. If contact has been made with a geophysical industry representative, any safety instructions given by the representative should be communicated to the RWCO and followed exactly.
10. Scheduled check-ins must be strictly adhered to.

Question 26

What should occur if any personnel show signs or symptoms of H2S exposure?

Answer 26

All workers will be immediately evacuated from the site.

Question 27

What are the symptoms of H2S exposure?

Answer 27

Symptoms may include irrational or abnormal behaviour, complaints of headache or nausea,loss of balance, loss of smell, eye or respiratory tract irritation.

Question 28

How can a dangerous water source be identified?

Answer 28

Just like identity signs for pipelines, oil and gas industry water sources are easily identified and are often enclosed by fencing. If water sources you find are fenced, lined or covered with bird deterrents they are likely produced water i.e. salt water, which should never be used for fire fighting.
Be cautious of man made water sources near oil and gas infrastructure. Never use waste sumps or tailings ponds as water sources.

Question 29

How can you identify safe natural water sources near oil & gas instructure?

Answer 29

Signs will often be labelled as safe.

Question 30

What should you do before digging or pumping from a water source if it’s not clearly labeled?

Answer 30

Crews should NEVER dig on well sites, nearby pipelines, or road edves without prior clearance from an oil and gas industry representative. ALWAYS call before you dig or pump.

Question 31

What water source is often safe to use?

Answer 31

Road building reservoirs are generally safe to use but still require confirmation with the oil & gas industry in that area.