Six recent pipeline incidents, commission says

Globe and Mail
October 22, 2008

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. -- In the past three years, there have been six pipeline incidents involving hydrogen sulphide that meet Level 3 criteria - the highest - in British Columbia, a spokesman for the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission said yesterday.

Those six incidents include two in the Dawson Creek area - the region where police and other authorities are now investigating two explosions that appear to have been deliberately set.

The commission defined a Level 3 emergency as something that may contain one or all of the following factors:

At the time of the incident a danger exists to the public or environment;

Control of the situation has been lost (such as rare occasions of a well blowout);
Release of hazardous substance;

Extensive involvement of external emergency services, federal and/or provincial agencies;

Emergency extends beyond company property.

Bomb experts have been combing the area of the two explosions all week, but answers are still few.

The two explosions were aimed at sour-gas pipelines near Dawson Creek, near the B.C.-Alberta boundary. Police believe the attacks near Dawson Creek are related to a letter sent to local media demanding a stop to oil and gas operations.

Commission spokesman Lee Shanks said in a statement that all incidents at oil and gas facilities in the province are reported to the commission, which tracks everything from tipped-over water containers at a well site to gas leaks and fires.