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Pipeline and Oil and Gas Overview

The Pipeline and Oil and Gas Business Unit specializes in provincial approvals, permitting and site assessment services for oil and gas developments. Our Environmental Planning division has extensive experience on a wide range of development projects and can meet the requirements of a diverse range of stakeholders while maintaining scope and budget expectations.

Over the past ten years, approximately 60 to 70 percent of our scope of work has been devoted to baseline studies, assessment and analysis, and regulatory processes related to oil and gas facility development.

In addition to the biophysical assessment work, we believe that a strong applied knowledge of relevant provincial, territorial and federal regulatory legislation is an essential component of effective environmental assessment and project planning.

The AXYS staff has extensive experience managing both provincial and federally regulated projects. We have collective experience with hundreds of facilities across western and northern Canada and over 20,000 km of pipelines in every major ecosystem from eastern B.C. through Manitoba. We understand the issues and the level of effort appropriate for any given project.

We can help identify stakeholder issues, provide regulatory and public consultation, and develop sound environmental protection plans and documentation that will meet regulatory expectations. We can also assist with your watercourse crossings, reclamation planning, archaeological assessments and consultation needs. We understand that time means money and are dedicated to tight management of program costs and scheduling.

Key Services

AXYS has completed environmental impact assessments for hundreds of pipeline projects in a diversity of geographical locations. Our staff is able to provide the relevant information on wildlife and vegetation surveys, soils conservation plans, water-crossing methodology, reclamation plans and construction mitigation measures for environmental protections.

We are frequently required to develop environmental specifications for contractor bid documents. We have produced leading edge, geo-referenced digital environmental alignment sheets to display environmental sensitivities and protection planning requirements along pipeline corridors for the purposes of construction and post-construction monitoring. In addition, AXYS has participated in numerous joint government/industry initiatives to develop best available practices for reducing project-related environmental effects, including right-of-way construction and maintenance guidelines for utilities in Canadian National Parks.

Permitting and Provincial Regulatory Approvals

We have the capability to prepare and provide information and documentation in support of provincial permitting and regulatory applications. We can help you quickly and efficiently meet all permit and regulatory guidelines and requirements in any of the western provinces.

Project Management and Logistics Planning

Members of our planning team have considerable experience with the management of projects of all sizes. AXYS can manage the entire assessment and permitting process. From project conception and design, through issues scoping, logistics, research, field studies, analysis and final documentation.

Stakeholder Consultation

Stakeholder consultation can be vital part of project planning. AXYS staff have extensive experience in the design and implementation of consultation programs and with stakeholder issues resolution. Drawing on decades of collective experience with oil and gas developments, we can help facilitate environmental discussions with First Nations and have had considerable success with capacity-building initiatives in First Nation communities.

Environmental Protection and Mitigation Planning

Planners help design mitigation plans to manage the potential environmental effects of development. We can assist in designing and implementing measures that promote sustainable interactions with the environment and provide contingency planning.

Selected Experience

EnCana Corporation: Ekwan Pipeline

Detailed EIA completed and approved by the National Energy Board for a sweet natural gas pipeline from northern B.C. into Alberta constructed in the winter 2003/04.

Westcoast Energy Inc: Grizzly Valley Pipeline Extension

Assessment of the 108.5 km extension of Westcoast Energy's existing Grizzly Valley pipeline to transport natural gas produced in the Narraway and Grizzly areas of northwest Alberta and northeast B.C. to Westcoast's existing pipeline system. From project start-up to completion of construction in winter 2003, the work included a complete assessment and addressed numerous fisheries and wildlife concerns.

TransCanada PipeLines Limited: Westpath Expansion

Alberta Conservation and Reclamation approvals and NEB Section 58 approval for the 2002 expansion of the TCPL pipeline system. The project included building new segments of pipeline in British Columbia and Alberta to accommodate long-term gas demand in the western United States and California markets. Important issues addressed included wildlife, reclamation and watercourse crossings. In addition, we created a reclamation plan, typical drawings and a stream crossing plan.

Shell Canada Limited/Canadian 88 Energy Corp: Screwdriver Creek Development

Environmental assessment for a coordinated producer development in a sensitive south eastern slopes area. Project included EUB hearings and extensive landowner consultation.

Alberta Energy Company Ltd: Express Pipeline

Detailed EIA for this major oil pipeline project covering over 400 km through eastern Alberta delivering crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to Casper, Wyoming. Issues included native prairie, large river crossing, endangered wildlife and reclamation.

As lead consultant, AXYS designed and conducted one of the most comprehensive post-construction monitoring programs ever conducted for a pipeline in Canada, involving wildlife, soils and vegetation parameters.

Alberta Energy Company Ltd: North Suffield Pipeline

Detailed EIA completed and approved by the National Energy Board for this natural gas pipeline from southeastern Alberta to southwestern Saskatchewan. Issues included construction through sensitive native prairie and across the South Saskatchewan River.

Canadian Forest Oil Ltd: Kakwa River Crossing

River crossing planning, regulatory consultation and construction inspection for winter construction of an isolated open cut river crossing.