Thread by @Lidsville

Had another interesting exchange with my former gas pipeline engineer friend this morning on #TMX & #CGL. You may recall he has high-level Cdn & internat'l experience designing/building pipelines. He's upset Canada would dump failing #TMX onto First Nations.. #cdnpoli #bcpoli

..Engineer: "First Nations groups are now competing to buy #TMX, but with the “repair” from the recent washout sitting on sharp rock, I assume, since they haven't shown us a new sand bed, the rush is on for the gov’t to get rid of it to the first buyer..." #bcpoli

...Engineer: "The Canadian govt needs a buyer with enough money ($25 billion) and is willing to take on the liability for both pipelines [old pipeline and new larger #TMX twinned line] when they fail... of course, the buyer won’t know that..." #bcpoli #cdpoli

.."As an aside, something happened to Trudeau's plan to use profits from #TMX to pay for climate change mitigation..." #bcpoli

.."Best solution is to just scrap #TMX. Don't know what to do with the old TM pipeline which is beyond its shelf life now. Kinder Morgan couldn’t wait to make a hasty retreat once it realized what it was into. Strange it couldn’t find a pipeline co to buy it, wonder why.."

..."But #TMX is not a thing that FN buyers should get into without knowing how to operate & maintain the most difficult & risky pipeline system in the country. Everyone gets $$ in their eyes whether it makes sense or not, but ask why an experienced pipeline co isn't interested.."

.."This is very similar to TC Energy unloading most of #CoastalGasLink as we have discussed before. Pipelines are absolutely not a benign, passive thing that just sits there making money, and pipeline companies know that all too well..." #bcpoli #cdnpoli

"Being familiar with operating natural gas lines (eg #CGL) with their continual transients & maintenance situations, I know they're not something anyone can just jump into & find easy. Also, TMX & especially #CGL are in difficult areas to access & work in..not like the prairies."

..Engineer: "FNs will be stuck hiring outside contractors for operation and maintenance, even if they are owners. Who can they hire...only experienced operators, and at what cost...??? And any failure will be an environmental nightmare for them.." Engineers abide by #murphyslaw..

..Engineer: "The IEA [International Energy Agency] came out with a 10 point plan to reduce oil consumption. Here we are trying to sell more oil and make money from a pipeline that has become so expensive the gov’t is bailing out of paying to compete it..."

And now this colonial Canadian govt wants to offload this dog of a project onto First Nations. Perhaps the feds expect to have to bail FNs out for the pipeline later, but prefer not to have to wear the failure themselves? If so, shady.

https://twitter.com/BNNBloomberg/status/1504923373557719042

For pipeline nerds, some extra remarks on the difficulty of building & maintaining lines in mountainous BC, so diff from the prairies: "Maintenance of river crossings & generally wet areas are a problem w/ all pipelines, together w/ deep snow & access for machinery in winter.."

.."Gas pipelines will float in water and need weights to hold them down which are installed during construction but need inspection to make sure the coating underneath is not damaged. On the dry prairies there is little trouble, but swampy, wet, snowy areas are difficult.." #CGL

.."Any steep slopes are inaccessible in winter/when wet. Snowslides can also wreak havoc. The existing small diameter pipeline to Prince Rupert was a nightmare & often shut down til late spring if landslide caused a break. A lg. 48" dia line will pose probs we can only guess at"

"I assume the pipeline maintenance also includes all equip't..valves, controls, emergency shutdown systems & all maintenance of all compressor stations. I think PR line was only 10" dia vs this 48" one. The equip't installed is lg & v heavy, needs equivalent maintenance equip't"

..Engineer on #CoastalGasLink: "My opinion is that TC Energy couldn't wait to get out of this due to the problems they know will come up in this area. They sold their first 65% to KKR & AB teachers pension plan & this gets a further 10% off their hands..." #CGL #bcpoli

.."TC Energy owns and operates all the large gas transmission lines in AB and across Canada, but these are accessible and straightforward to operate and maintain. One section in AB is 48" diameter pipe, but on a prairie right-of-way, not through mud and mountains.." #CGL

If you have any Qs for an engineer about #TMX or #CGL, I could forward them. Just ask.

We're all going to be stuck with the financial and climate consequences of these failing projects; it's in all our interests to get our govts to stop subsidizing this decrepit Mordor. /

PS this from another professional engineer on #TMX

https://twitter.com/SusanDavidsonM2/status/1504932490342936577

PS "With #TMX jumping from $7.5B to $21+B, it's too expensive for govt to complete. But selling it requires explanation of all factors, incl engineering, maintenance & operation so buyers are fully informed. What's left over for FNs after financing & operating/maintenance costs?"

Afterthought from former gas pipeline engineer: "The whole oil & gas industry around Alberta is becoming a stranded asset of abandoned wells, unpaid municipal taxes, lost investments, pipelines partially built (#KXL, #TMX), and all on taxpayers' account." #cdnpoli #ableg #bcpoli

.."Indigenous groups line up for Trans Mountain pipeline stakes; B.C. leaders @UBCIC call it ‘economic version of a smallpox blanket’

by @Wendy_Stueck @globeandmail

theglobeandmail.com/business/artic… #bcpoli #cdnpoli #TMX