Pipeline Profiles: Wascana
Pipeline system and key points
Section updated June 2020
Plains Midstream Canada ULC (PMC) owns and operates the Wascana Pipeline. The pipeline transports light crude oil from the Canada/U.S. border to Regina, Saskatchewan.
The pipeline receives light crude oil produced in the Bakken region in North Dakota via a connection with the Bakken North Pipeline. The main receipt point is Raymond Station, located in Sheridan County, Montana. The main delivery point is the Plains Terminal in Regina, Saskatchewan. In Regina, the Wascana Pipeline delivers crude oil to the Enbridge Mainline.
The pipeline commenced operations in 1975. At the end of 2017, CER-regulated assets included 173 km of pipeline and various auxiliary infrastructure. Capacity of the Wascana pipeline is 6 359 cubic metres per day (40 000 barrels per day).
In October 2012, PMC applied to the CER to reverse the flow of Wascana, enabling it to transport light crude oil from the Bakken region across the U.S.-Canadian border to the Plains Terminal in Regina. The reversal was approved by the CER in May 2013 and Wascana began transporting crude oil in June 2014.
Official CER documents related to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Wascana Pipeline are available: Plains Midstream Canada ULC regulatory documents (facilities) [Folder 534348].
You can see the Wascana Pipeline and all CER-regulated pipelines on the CER’s Interactive Pipeline Map. The map shows more detailed location information, the products carried by each pipeline, the operating status and more. You can also view a map of Plains’ assets on its website.
Pipeline map
Text version of this map
This map provides an overview of the Wascana Pipeline.
Tolls
Section updated June 2020
A toll is the price charged by a pipeline company for transportation and other services. Tolls allow pipeline companies to safely operate and maintain pipelines. Tolls also provide funds for companies to recover capital (the money used to build the pipeline), pay debts, and provide a return to investors.
Because there are no third party shippers on the Wascana Pipeline, in June 2016, the CER approved PMC’s request [Folder 3004714] for exemption from filing audited financial statements and tariffs for the Wascana Pipeline.
PMC is subject to Group 2 financial regulation and tolls on the Wascana Pipeline are regulated by the CER on a complaint basis.
Abandonment funding
Section updated June 2020
The CER requires all pipelines to set aside funds to safely cease operation of a pipeline at the end of its useful life. In 2013, PMC estimated it would cost $12.5 million to do this for the Wascana Pipeline. In 2018, it updated this estimate to $8.1 million. These funds are being collected over 40 years and set aside in a trust.
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trust fund balance ($) | – | – | 2 063 813 | 2 111 542 | 2 474 409 |
Official CER documents related to abandonment funding can be found here, sorted by year and by company: abandonment funding documents [Folder 3300366].
Pipeline financial information
Financial resource requirements
Section updated June 2020
The Canadian Energy Regulator Act requires oil pipeline companies to set aside funds to pay for the costs of any incident that occurs, such as a spill. See sections 136 to 142 of the Act for more information. Plains Midstream Canada has demonstrated that it has financial resources of one billion dollars. Official CER documents related to Plains Midstream Canada’s financial resources can be found here: Plains Midstream Canada ULC financial resource requirements documents [Folder 2986143].
Corporate financial information
Section updated June 2020
PMC specializes in the transportation, storage, processing, and marketing of hydrocarbon commodities in western Canada and in Montana and North Dakota in the U.S. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Calgary, Canada. PMC is a subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline. Plains All American Pipeline is headquartered in Houston, Texas. It is engaged in the transportation and storage of hydrocarbon commodities throughout North America.
Credit ratings provide an assessment of the financial strength of a company, including its ability to attract capital to build new infrastructure and meet financial obligations. The credit ratings below are expert opinions of how likely the debt issuer is to live up to its obligations.
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moody's credit rating | Baa3 | Baa2 | Baa2 | Baa2 | Baa2 | Baa3 | Ba1 | Ba1 | Ba1 | Ba1 |
| S&P credit rating | – | – | – | – | – | BBB- | BBB- | BBB- | BBB- | BBB- |
Financial regulatory audits
Section updated June 2020
The CER audits pipeline companies to confirm compliance with the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, regulations, CER orders, and CER decisions. Financial regulatory audits focus on whether the company has complied with all CER regulations, toll orders and other accounting, reporting and toll and tariff matters. PMC’s last audit was completed on 28 January 2015.
Official CER documents related to PMC’s financial regulatory audits are available: Plains Midstream Canada ULC regulatory documents (financial regulatory audits) [Folder 2452652].
Condition compliance
Section updated June 2020
Every pipeline company in Canada must meet federal, provincial or territorial, and local requirements. This includes Acts, Regulations, rules, bylaws, and zoning restrictions. Pipelines are also bound by technical, safety, and environmental standards along with company rules, protocols and management systems. In addition to these requirements, the CER may add conditions to regulatory instruments that each company must meet. Condition compliance is monitored by the CER and enforcement action is taken when required. For a detailed list of conditions that TEML Westspur must meet, and their status, please see the condition compliance table and search for “Plains Midstream Canada ULC”.
Safety performance
Section updated June 2020
The CER holds the companies it regulates accountable to protect the safety of Canadians and the environment. As part of this accountability, companies must report to the CER events such as incidents and unauthorized third-party activities that happen without the pipeline company’s written consent. For a summary of pipeline incidents and unauthorized activities on the Westpur Pipeline since 2008, visit the Safety performance dashboard and select “Plains Midstream Canada ULC”.
Emergency management
Section updated June 2020
The CER checks to make sure companies are keeping pipelines safe by doing inspections, in-depth safety audits, and other activities. Yet, even with these precautions, an emergency could still happen. Sound emergency management practices improve public safety and environmental protection outcomes, and provide for more effective emergency response.
The CER holds its regulated companies responsible for anticipating, preventing, mitigating, and managing incidents of any size or duration. Each company must have an emergency management program that includes detailed emergency procedures manuals to guide its response in an emergency situation. We oversee the emergency management program of a regulated company’s projects as long as they operate.
The CER requires companies to publish information on their emergency management program and their emergency procedures manuals on their websites so Canadians can access emergency management information. To view emergency management information for Wascana, go to Plains Midstream Canada’s Emergency Response Plans website and select Prairie Pipelines ERP. Wascana is covered under the Prairie Pipelines Emergency Response Plan, starting on PDF page 462.
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