Compliance Verification Activity Report: CV2324-192 - Kingston Midstream Westspur Limited

Overview

Compliance verification activity type: Emergency Response Exercise

Activity #: CV2324-192
Start date: 2023-09-13
End date: 2023-09-14

Team:

Regulated company: Kingston Midstream Westspur Limited

Operating company: Kingston Midstream Westpur Limited

Province(s) / Territory(s):

Discipline(s):

Rationale and scope:

Full scale exercise near Steelman, MB. Full-scale environmental emergency exercise testing Kingston's response to a worst-case scenario at Steelman Terminal.

The scenario for the exercise involved a heavy equipment operator working on a containment berm near Tank 40 who struck the tanks’ valve at the Kingston Midstream Tank Terminal near Steelman, SK. The strike resulted in a tank valve failure and release of crude oil and a vapour cloud.
 

Compliance tool(s) used:

Facility details

Facilities:

Regulatory requirements

Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:

Observations (no outstanding follow-up required)

Observation 1 - CER Evaluation

Date & time of visit: 2023-09-13 09:00

Discipline: Emergency Management

Categories:

Facility:

Observations:

On 13 September 2023, two Canada Energy Regulator (CER) Inspection Officers participated in the Kingston Midstream Pipeline full-scale emergency response exercise near Steelman, SK. The scenario for the exercise involved a heavy equipment operator working on a containment berm near Tank 40 who struck the tanks’ valve at the Kingston Midstream Tank Terminal near Steelman, SK. The strike resulted in a tank valve failure and release of crude oil and a vapour cloud.


Kingston Midstream technical and regulatory staff attended in-person and other Kingston Midstream employees participated virtually. The local fire chief and Rural Municipality of Browning Emergency Management Officer attended, along with a representative from the Saskatchewan Department of Energy and Resources, and two staff from Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. A local Indigenous group was invited but was unable to attend the exercise.


Kingston Midstream stated that the objectives of the exercise were as follows:
 


CER staff evaluated aspects of the following elements:
 
Facility emergency response procedures were followed from the onset of the incident and included evacuating Kingston Midstream’s office near the incident site from the up-wind side and relocating to a site outside of an initial 800m emergency protection zone (EPZ). A company mobile Incident Command Post (ICP) and emergency response trailer stored at the site was used as an ICP and response was managed using the Incident Command System. .

On-site operational staff formed a Field Response Team and quickly organized a response that initially focused on evacuation of the terminal and a nearby resident (within the EPZ) and selecting response tactics that could be done safely. Containment of the spilled oil was prioritized in conjunction with Kingston Midstream’s pipeline control center and operators that isolated upstream flow to the incident site and through pumping out remaining product in the affected tank to lower the release volume.  Internal response assets were requested– such as drones to view the incident, breathing apparatus for safe approach to the tank, and spill clean up and wildlife deterrent materials. An internal Incident Management Team was also activated in nearby Estevan, SK. 

CER staff observed appropriate implementation of the “get big quick” philosophy, a fundamental spill response approach. This concept focuses on the rapid deployment of a large number of resources and the ordering of resources in case they are needed even when it is not certain. For example, external fire fighting contractors were mobilized or put on standby in case the incident escalated to a fire scenario. Other examples included mobilization of an external air monitoring contractor and decontamination trailer and requests for additional roadblock resources.

The health and safety of workers and potentially impacted public was prioritized throughout the exercise scenario.

The CER requested a copy of the Facility Emergency Response Plan to be submitted to CER for reference.  

No non-compliances were identified during this exercise and CER Staff are of the view that the exercise objectives were met. CER Staff are of the view that the skills gained by Kingston Midstream through the exercise will continue to enhance Kingston Midstream’s broader emergency management program and emergency response capabilities.


 

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observations (company follow-up required)

Identified non-compliances to company plans or procedures are non-compliances either to:

- the condition of an authorization document that requires the implementation of that plan or procedure; or

- the relevant section of the regulations that requires implementation of that plan or procedure including those sections that require implementation of plans or procedures as a part of a Program