In late 2019, the Ministry of Environment and the Saskatchewan Environmental Code Advisory Committee sought feedback on proposed amendments to the Hydrostatic Testing Chapter of the Saskatchewan Environmental Code.
The Hydrostatic Testing Chapter applies to the use of water to pressure test oil and gas pipelines prior to commissioning. It helps ensure that potential environmental and ecological impacts related to source water and discharge locations are minimized and appropriately managed. The actual pressure testing of pipelines is regulated by other legislation (i.e. The Pipelines Regulations, 2000, The National Energy Board Act (Canada).
The proposed amendments are intended to provide clarity to the requirements and allow tank-to-tank type tests to go through the acceptable solution route.
The ministry, in consultation with the Lands Content Committee, is reviewing the responses and will report back on what we heard. The report will be emailed to stakeholders and posted on the Government of Saskatchewan website in early 2020.