The safest way to bring you energy
Pipelines are the safest and most environmentally responsible way to transport natural gas and petroleum products over long distances. Find out more at www.tcenergy.com/safety.
Where are the pipelines?
Pipelines are everywhere! North America has millions of miles of pipelines that deliver critical supplies of natural gas and petroleum products that we rely on every day and sustain our high quality of life. Most of these pipelines operate underground, 24/7, quietly delivering a vital service to people across the continent.
TC Energy has a remarkable energy network that spans three countries and delivers 25 per cent of all natural gas used in North America every day. We deliver Canadian oil from Alberta to the U.S. Midwest and Gulf Coast. And, in Mexico, our pipelines are located in key regions, helping the country with its significant transition from the use of fuel oil and diesel to using natural gas for power generation.
What's the safest way to move natural gas and oil to where it's needed?
Underground, between mountains and even under water, our pipelines operate safely and reliably, quietly connecting our continent over tens of thousands of kilometres.
View some quick facts about pipeline safety.
Are pipelines safe?
Yes, absolutely. Pipelines are the safest and most environmentally responsible method of transporting large volumes of petroleum products and natural gas over long distances.
- Over 99.999 per cent of all pipeline deliveries are made safely each year
- Pipelines are approximately 4.5 times safer than rail (though both are very safe)
- Pipelines have robust operations and integrity management programs
- Pipelines are stringently regulated across North America, with some of the world’s highest standards of safety and integrity
What does TC Energy do to keep pipelines safe?
We believe no pipeline incident is acceptable and all incidents can be prevented. We take our responsibility of safety and reliability very seriously. We:
- Employ approximately 500 professionals dedicated to pipeline integrity across North America
- Invest over $1B annually in pipeline system integrity
- Conducted nearly 350 inline inspections in 2019
- Have invested $150 million in pipeline research and development (R&D) since 2010
Can we make pipelines safer?
Yes, we can and we work at doing so every day. TC Energy employs the most sophisticated and advanced data analytics and risk evaluation methodologies in the industry. We have a long history of pioneering, deploy important pipeline technology and develop enhanced risk evaluation methodologies that are adopted by regulators, standards committees and other operators. Such as:
- Led the pipeline industry in developing inline inspection of pipelines to monitor and prevent incidents
- Use of high-strength steels and fusion bonded epoxy coatings
- Mechanized welding and automated ultrasonic testing
- Laser mapping of corrosion and metal loss has led to significant improvements in inspection data analysis
- Perform annual metre by metre risk assessments on all pipelines and implement related risk control measures