A Nova Gas Transmission 12-inch-diameter gathering line explodedover the weekend, causing a fire that injured a pipeline employee.The employee was treated and released. The rupture, which occurredon the northwestern part of Nova’s Alberta pipeline system about 60miles north of Fairview, also forced the curtailment of about 50MMcf/d of gas.

The NPS 12 Worlsey Lateral ruptured Saturday at about 7 p.m.Partial service was restored early Tuesday morning with about 28MMcf/d of gas returning to service. Restoration allowed for theSlims Lake and McLean Creek production facilities to be broughtback online. The remaining facilities will remain out of servicefor an indefinite period, a spokesman said.

As a result of the rupture, Nova was required to isolatesections of the Worsley Lateral and the Worsley Lateral Extension,and to shut in the following production facilities: Worsley East,Ray Lake West, Running Lake, Ray Lake South, Slims Lake and McLeanCreek.

The pipeline was unable to meet some of its transportationobligations as a result of the rupture and declared force majeure.The cause of the rupture and subsequent explosion and fire is notyet known and no estimate of damage is available.

©Copyright 2000 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.