The safety performance of pipeline companies regulated by Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) continues to compare well with that of other companies monitored by other provincial, national and international organizations, according to a report issued Friday.

The board’s “Focus on Safety 2000-2002 – A Comparative Analysis of Pipeline Safety Performance” provides details on the safety performance of NEB-regulated oil and gas pipelines for the calendar years 2002, 2001 and 2000. The data is limited to companies regulated under Canada’s National Energy Board Act and does not include performance indicators on pipelines carrying anything other than hydrocarbon liquids or natural gas.

The number of unauthorized activities on the right-of-way incidents reported to the NEB decreased “significantly” to 25 in 2002, down from 51 in 2001 and 49 in 2000. There was one incident resulting in “contact to the pipeline” in both 2002 and 2001; there were two incidents in 2000.

The number of ruptures reported by NEB-regulated pipeline companies increased to three in 2002 from two in 2001. The primary cause of ruptures among NEB-regulated pipelines over the past 10 years is resulted from corrosion and cracking, according to the report.

The report is the second annual analysis offering an understanding of the safety performance of the oil and gas pipeline companies regulated by the NEB. The information is provided voluntarily by pipeline companies. For more information on the report, visit NEB’s web site at www.neb-one.gc.ca.

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