A Kinder Morgan spill response team motors out on the Fraser River in a jet boat to set up a decontamination unit. / EVAN MATTHEWS
A Kinder Morgan spill response team motors out on the Fraser River in a jet boat to set up a decontamination unit. / EVAN MATTHEWS

by EVAN MATTHEWS

With the Trans Mountain Expansion Project dominating headlines, Kinder Morgan has given a response ” a spill response.

On Wednesday, Jun. 1, Kinder Morgan put on a simulation of a land-based spill, followed by the deployment of emergency response equipment on the Fraser River.

“This is an opportunity for us to get out and use one of our control points,” says Jason Turner, an environmental health and safety coordinator for Kinder Morgan.

“We use our equipment to deploy our booms, boats and skimmers. It’s an opportunity to train and to do an exercise simulating an oil spill.”

A decon unit uses these orange booms, which are anchored in order to guide hydro carbon (oil), which floats. The booms have skirts sitting six to eight inches deep. / EVAN MATTHEWS
A decon unit uses these orange booms, which are anchored in order to guide hydro carbon (oil), which floats. The booms have skirts sitting six to eight inches deep. / EVAN MATTHEWS

In the event of a spill, Turner says Kinder Morgan can respond within two hours.

“We have our OSCAR (Oil Spill Containment and Recovery) units strategically located throughout the pipeline,” says Turner. “We have units in Blue River, we have units in Jasper.”

He says equipment is obviously located with the recovery teams, and while there are teams in Blue River and Jasper, there are no response teams located directly in Valemount.

The Trans Mountain Pipeline crosses the Fraser River in the Robson Valley twice with one being at kilometer 458 and the other at kilometer 461. The pipeline also crosses the North Thompson River and Swift Creek in the Robson Valley.

There are various crossings over the Fraser River throughout the province, including the Lower Mainland.

The purpose of the booms is to guide the oil toward the mouth of the decontamination unit where a skimmer is set up. The skimmer collects oil on the water's surface, but inevitably some water is taken out with the oil, as it's not separated. / EVAN MATTHEWS
The purpose of the booms is to guide the oil toward the mouth of the decontamination unit where a skimmer is set up. The skimmer collects oil on the water’s surface, but inevitably some water is taken out with the oil, as it’s not separated. / EVAN MATTHEWS

 

Photos: Evan Matthews The oil moves through a hose toward a pump, which continues to move the oil. / EVAN MATTHEWS
Photos: Evan Matthews
The oil moves through a hose toward a pump, which continues to move the oil. / EVAN MATTHEWS
The oil will eventually reach this orange container, which is called a fast tank. From here, trucks come in to haul the oil away. / EVAN MATTHEWS
The oil will eventually reach this orange container, which is called a fast tank. From here, trucks come in to haul the oil away. / EVAN MATTHEWS

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