SafeSmart Helps Pembina Step Up

Canadian company Pembina Pipelines Inc owns and operates a system of pipelines that distribute raw resources such as oil sands products, natural gas liquids and conventional and synthetic crude oil from Western Canada, as well as ethane from North Dakota.

Recently, Pembina applied to Albert Energy Regulator (AER) to construct and operate the “Fox Creek to Namao Expansion Project”, where two pipelines will stretch for 270km, and they were successful.

Near the conclusion of construction, Pembina found that maintenance on block valves was a challenge. Pipe diameter and elevation on supports meant that the pipes were too high for conventional height access products to be used – ladders were a dangerous tipping risk due to placement on some uneven ground—and clambering—particularly during Canada’s more icy months—was not a risk that Pembina were willing to take. Nor would it satisfy CCOHS requirements.

Pembina contacted SafeSmart Access, a Canadian portable height access specialist of Oxbow Saskatchewan, to provide a solution.

With prior experience in pre-engineered pipe rack access and other projects in the oil and gas industry, SafeSmart supplied pre-engineered and modular Super Maintenance Platforms that could be deployed quickly for valve maintenance, with complete fall protection and weather resistance, thanks to its high-grade aluminum construction.

Pembina’s operators can now work on valves without overreaching or leaning too far from the edge of the platform. And the unit is also compliant with CCOHS regulations.

SafeSmart’s Tom Biggs says the client is extremely happy.

“Pembina are experiencing cost savings through added maintenance efficiency because of our platforms now,” says Tom. “And with this experience in a very localized area, they intend on commissioning us for more designs to provide access at different locations of their various new and existing infrastructure.”