Working safely near our pipelines

At Imperial, we are committed to ensuring the safety of the communities near our operations. We perform all operations in a safe, responsible manner to protect our employees, the public, the environment and the pipeline.

Imperial pipelines are regulated provincially and must comply with high operating standards and legal requirements. Contractors and the public must also be aware of right-of-way (ROW) requirements. Existing regulations prohibit the use of excavation equipment near pipelines without the approval of the pipeline owner.

Planning work near a pipeline

When planning work near a pipeline, please ensure to:

• Contact your local one call centre through Click Before You Dig prior to any ground disturbance or excavation activity
• Submit your utility location request at least three full working days prior to starting your project

An Imperial representative will contact you and arrange to mark and locate any Imperial facilities or pipelines on your property.

Click Before You Dig is a free program available across North America to request the location of buried utilities, including Imperial’s pipelines, prior to ground disturbance. Contractors and the public can visit the online portal to access their province’s one-call center and to submit a locate request.

Imperial’s pipeline markers

Imperial’s pipelines are identified by permanent above-ground markers or signs at all road, railway and water crossings, though the markers should never be used as a reference for the exact location of the pipeline.

Imperial’s pipelines have been operating safely for many years, however the depth of these pipelines and other underground utilities can sometimes change due to erosion, previous digging projects or uneven surfaces. That’s why it’s important to contact your local provincial one-call service provider or Imperial directly before you do any type of excavation in an area you know or believe might be on or near an Imperial pipeline or ROW. 

Activities that require a locate request include, but are not limited to:

• Encroaching or crossing the pipeline or ROW with services or other utilities
• Constructing roads, paving, parking, driveways, ditches, railways or installing overhead or underground utilities
• Cleaning ditches (roadside or general purpose drainage ditch modifications or cleanouts), fixing or improving in-field drainage (field drain cleanouts or the installation of new field drains) or repairing or replacing drain tile or fencing
• Building a berm or removing soil
• Installing fence posts
• Altering the land grade or deep tilling the soil
• Operating non-agricultural equipment or non-passenger vehicles on or over the pipeline or ROW

Engaging with Imperial before your activity could prevent accidents and injuries, including fatalities. 

Permission for the activity must be issued by Imperial and Imperial representatives must be on site to supervise excavation near the Imperial ROW.

Maintaining Rights of Way (ROWs)

The ROW must be kept clear of obstructions to ensure safe access to the pipeline for required maintenance work and in the event of an emergency. Imperial does not allow for the construction of buildings or foundations within the ROW. Planting trees and bushes or stockpiling materials or burn piles are also prohibited on the ROW. 

For approved installations or to operate a vehicle or mobile equipment across the ROW, written permission from Imperial is required. Approval could take up to six weeks. Approval times can vary greatly depending on the project scope and location so please plan ahead to avoid a disruption to your work. We can help you avoid problems and delays by:

• Locating and marking Imperial pipelines
• Helping obtain written permission for construction or excavation over Imperial pipelines
• Outlining the 30-metre prescribed controlled area on either side of the centerline of the pipe, and providing guidelines for excavation and blasting
• Ensuring an Imperial field representative is on site during excavation

If you are planning an activity within 30 metres of an Imperial pipeline, such as building a fence, deep tilling, digging a ditch, operating equipment or other activities, email thirdpartyrequests@esso.ca and a member of the Canadian Surface Land Team will be in touch. Please note that you require a survey plan and/or to have submitted a locate request for our team to provide support.

Developers: It is important for municipalities, developers and landowners to engage with Imperial during the early planning stages of a development near an Imperial ROW. This will allow for sufficient time to ensure our pipelines are appropriately incorporated into the plan and that new development near our facilities meet both regulatory and Imperial’s requirements. Imperial’s involvement in the planning process can help avoid delays and additional costs. We are happy to meet or discuss your project with you. 

Contact us

Are you a new landowner? Need to update your contact information? Have a question or concern? Below is our non-emergency contact info. Contact us via thirdpartyrequests@esso.ca.