Future abandonment of the Norman Wells to Zama, Alta., crude oil pipeline could be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the NWT.
The Norman Wells crude oil pipeline was commissioned in 1985, meaning it's been transporting crude oil for nearly 40 years from Imperial OilSA国际影视传媒檚 facility in Norman Wells.
Lifetime expectancy of an oil pipeline ranges from 30 to 50 years or more based on numerous factors, such as materials, i.e. pipe grade; the type of coating protection on the Norman Wells pipeline (fusion bonded epoxy, a new type of coating); environmental conditions; maintenance practices; and cathodic protection advancements.
The climate changes affecting the North include low water on the Mackenzie River, which has huge effects on transportation of fuels, goods and services, and warmer winters resulting in shorter hauling season to remote communities.
The Norman Wells crude oil pipeline could have its flow reversed and be converted to a product pipeline to transport refined petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. These refined products could be moved through the pipeline regardless of the weather, winter road conditions and low water on the Mackenzie River.
A product pipeline is the most efficient way to transport all required products safely to the North.
In Alberta, the Trans-Northern Pipelines/Alberta Product Pipeline, which runs 320 km from Edmonton-area refineries to distribution terminals in Calgary, has near the same capacity as the Norman Wells pipeline.
Every attempt can be made to minimize the pipeline's environmental footprint in the NWT by using the existing pipeline right-of-way. Among the benefits of converting the pipeline project will be greatly reduced volumes of trucked fuel, resulting in decreased traffic and less road damage on local highways.
The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions. The average tractor fuel truck has an emissions rate of 223 tons per year, so eliminating 3,600 truckloads of fuel would equate to approximately 802,800 tons of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Before pipeline conversion work begins, Indigenous people in the affected area should form a consortium of ownership, complete feasibility and engineering cost to reverse the flow of the pipeline and covert the units to liquid natural gas from diesel fuel to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.
Another good option/addition to the pipeline system would be to build three smaller lateral lines from the main trunk line to Tulita, Deline and Check Point, at the junction of highways 1 and 7.
Distribution terminal tanks could be installed to supply fuel to Fort Simpson, Wrigley, Jean Marie River, Sambaa KSA国际影视传媒檈 (Trout Lake), Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte.
Also, build a lateral to Fort Providence junction along the Mackenzie Highway to supply fuel products to Hay River, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith and Yellowknife.
Fabricate all required product storage tanks at the distribution terminals. Also use existing storage tanks in Zama and Norman Wells.
SA国际影视传媒擡arl Browning was born at Browning Point Farm, located at the mouth of the Trout River on the Mackenzie River. After spending his youth in Fort Simpson and Yellowknife, he relocated to Alberta in the mid-1970s in search of better employment opportunities and to further his education. During this time, he married and raised three wonderful children. He spent 35 years working in the oil and gas industry in Calgary. Later, he returned to the NWT, where he served as general manager for local band operations in Fort Simpson and Hay River for two years. For the past year, Browning has been working in Yukon, focusing on economic development.
