Edmonton, Alberta – Western Economic Diversification Canada

The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, today announced an investment to establish facilities to assess pipeline leak detection system technologies.

Federal funding of $2.21 million through the Western Diversification Program will enable C-FER Technologies to acquire equipment and materials to outfit one outdoor and two indoor simulated environment facilities. These facilities will be used to test and validate the effectiveness of different leak detection technologies, while assisting innovators across various domestic and international technology companies in improving the reliability and sensitivity of their systems.

Currently, there are no other programs or facilities that exist in Canada that focus on the testing, evaluation and validation of leak detection system technologies. As a result, this project will help generate innovative solutions towards pipeline improvement, while developing a more comprehensive understanding of the capabilities and limitations of pipeline leak detection systems.

Quick Facts

• Federal funds supporting an outdoor aerial field test facility, will provide the equipment and materials required to safely simulate underground leaks from pipelines, enabling aircraft equipped with sensors to monitor and detect breaches in pipeline infrastructure.
• Support towards outfitting the indoor system for evaluating leak detection technologies on buried pipelines would help replicate conditions typically encountered by North American pipelines transporting oil sands crude. While additional funding provided would support constructing a system for evaluating leak detection system on pipelines crossing inland waterways.
• Benefits will be realized across a diverse range of sectors, including clean energy, oil sands and environmental technology.

Quotes

"By investing in new and innovative technologies that enhance the safety of our pipelines, we are ensuring the responsible development of Canada's resources. With our Government's continued support, we are creating jobs and securing Canada's future prosperity."

- Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

 

"Funding received from Western Economic Diversification Canada will enable industry to assess a broader range of technologies under operating conditions that are typical of pipeline operating environments in North America. The result of this testing will help accelerate the development of these technologies and their installation on pipeline systems."

- Brian Wagg, Director of Business Development and Planning, C-FER Technologies