Canoeing the sahtu norman wells is a canoeists bonanza. Town hall is the place for all things municipal government. The four inch steel pipe connected the oilfields of norman wells. When americas first commercial oil well was drilled in 1859 near oil seeps along a creek at titusville, pennsylvania, a new breed of entrepreneurs began searching for oil seeps in other states. Box 11 x0e 0v0 norman wells, nt midarctic transportation co.
The mackenzie valley pipeline, also called the mackenzie river pipeline, was a proposed. The project was first proposed in the early 1970s but was scrapped following an inquiry conducted by justice thomas. The pipeline stretches 870 kilometers 540 miles from norman wells, in the northwest territories, to zama, alberta where it enters a thirdparty pipeline system and is sent to edmonton. Norman wells is the point of departure for a variety of fishing trips, from day trips on great bear lake to fully outfitted flyin fishing camps on smaller lakes nearby. Adieu to norman wells september 18, 2016 petroleum news. The line runs 869 kilometres between norman wells, n. The pipeline s main line was in use for less than fourteen months 19 december 1943 to 4 january 1945. The expansion of the norman wells oilfield in the mid 80s. Maps archive see historical gas pipeline maps, here pre2009. Norman wells pipeline is an 868 kilometer pipeline commissioned in 1985 to transport crude oil from imperial oils facility in norman wells, northwest territories to zama in northern alberta, where it connects with the alberta oil pipeline network. The museum features much information about the history of norman wells with particular focus on the world war ii canol project, which saw an oil pipeline, a road, and telephone line built from.
Nov 17, 2017 sean kheraj tracking canadas history of oil pipeline spills november 8, 20 tracking canadas history of oil pipeline spills sean kheraj indigenous voices and resistance in oil pipeline history. History of line pipe manufacturing in north america crtd. The completion of an oil pipeline from norman wells to zama city in 1985 connected to the north american pipeline grid and. This chapter focuses on the geotechnical issues associated with the design, construction and operation of pipelines in permafrost terrain. Ken coates is dean of the college of arts and science at the university of saskatchewan.
In 2008, i interviewed jennifer bonnell about her work on the environmental history of the don river valley. Download norman wells to zama oil pipeline permafrost and terrain research and monitoring program or read online books in pdf, epub, tuebl, and mobi format. The dene tha and the norman wells pipeline november 18, 2016. The upstream system starts with gathering pipelines of a small diameter that takes the oil from the wells to field storage tanks. Esso resources canada and interprovincial pipeline ltd. The mackenzie valley pipeline, also called the mackenzie river pipeline, was a proposed project to transport natural gas from the beaufort sea through canadas northwest territories to tie into gas pipelines in northern alberta. Canadas complicated pipeline history winnipeg free press. The efforts to build the airfields of the northwest staging route morphed into efforts to improve them and continued throughout the war years. The norman wells field is considered to be the fourth largest, single oil deposit in canada, and in 1982 a major expansion of the norman wells field was undertaken by imperial oil. Norman wells field a long history of oil production in. Environmental assessment and early dene resistance to the.
Sixteen river systems can be accessed by air from this fly out outfitting. Its the first completely buried canadian oil pipeline built across permafrost terrain. Sep 26, 2018 for the first time in two years, the line 21 pipeline is set to reopen. Whether its hiking, fishing, hunting, canoeing, or birdwatching, norman wells has it all. In the 1990s and 2000s an additional 37 wells were drilled in the field. Highway and canadian pipelines including the canol pipeline, 1942 to 1945. Enbridge crews conduct an integrity dig on their line 21 pipeline near norman wells. Aug 27, 2015 the historical centre, known locally as the museum serves as the tourism information centre for the town of norman wells and the larger sahtu region. Following a successful career as a professional ballet dancer, she earned her phd at rice university, where she wrote and finished her first novel, the medusa tree, about a young dancer struggling against war and the myths of beauty and power entangling. Sean kheraj, department of history, york university will present. Although the norman wells section was shut down, oil was received from skagway and pumped to fairbanks and a pipeline was also extended from whitehorse to watson lake.
Like a carnival game of whack a mole spread over nearly 900 km of northern wilderness, finding and stopping leaks in the norman wells to zama pipeline has challenged enbridge for the past three winters. Natural gas wells at paola and 1892 oilfield discovery at neodesha reveal giant midcontinent field. Indigenous voices and resistance in oil pipeline history. History of gas and oil pipelines without pic pipeline knowledge.
The historical centre, known locally as the museum serves as the tourism information centre for the town of norman wells and the larger sahtu region. Thanks to frank dabbs author and member of the board of the petroleum history society for permission to reprint his chronologies of events before the leduc discovery. Privately printed and scarce account of the construction of the norman wells to white horse pipeline during ww ii. Built out of two wooden boards combined to make a v shape, the first oil pipeline is widely believed to have been produced in 1862 at the well of phillips no. This wilderness site later became the community of norman wells and its growth has been directly attributable to petroleum. Jan 12, 2015 built out of two wooden boards combined to make a v shape, the first oil pipeline is widely believed to have been produced in 1862 at the well of phillips no. Putting pipeline spills in historical perspective november 17, 2017 november 17, 2017 1.
Norman wells developing a northern oilfield youtube. Reprinted in 2012 by the norman wells historical society covers history of the pipeline and description of the backpacking trail. Norman wells oil production to resume after line 21 pipeline. This pipeline, being under the jurisdiction of the national energy board by virtue of it being transboundary, was designed in the early 1980s. Imperial oil eyes sale of its commercial oil field in northwest territories. This wilderness site later became the community of norman wells and its. Sep 02, 2015 the historical centre, known locally as the museum serves as the tourism information centre for the town of norman wells and the larger sahtu region. According to the 2016 census, the town has 778 people. Norman wells, with a population around 800, is known for its major oil and gas production facilities. The report explains the rationale behind each site selection, where the site is located, when and what type of instrumentation has been installed and presents a brief summary of the data collected during the first year of observation. The facts are developed using cepa member data or sourced from third parties.
Imperial oil says it will suspend oil production at its field in norman wells, n. The norman wells oil pipeline has been operating successfully since 1985. Alberta petroleum public policy milestones 1670 1945 frank dabbs is a journalist, columnist, author and business communicator who has spent most of his 38. Oct 22, 2018 the calgarybased company says it has been shipping oil from storage since last month on enbridge inc. It was the first settlement in the northwest territories founded entirely as a result of nonrenewableresource development. National energy board, reasons for decision, in the matter of an application under the national energy board act of interprovincial pipe line nw ltd. Canada has a long history of building energy pipelines, but canadian attitudes toward major energy pipeline projects have changed over time. An imperial oil spokesperson said that the company is beginning work to restart oil production in norman wells. As a means for moving men and material to the defense of alaska, though, the staging. Canada has a long history of building energy pipelines. A history of the yukon and northwest territories, best left as indians. The complicated history of building pipelines in canada.
Petroleum history society two chronologies by frank dabbs. History of line pipe manufacturing in north america crtd kiefner, j. First it was the mackenzie gas project, now the shutters are being erected around the central mackenzie valley as canadas north retreats even deeper into hibernation, ending for the foreseeable future the oncelimitless hopes of developing trillions of cubic. Canada has a long history of building energy pipelines, but. Pipeline, line of pipe equipped with pumps and valves and other control devices for moving liquids, gases, and slurries fine particles suspended in liquid. View of rugged terrain over which the trans mountain oil pipe line was built, jasper national park, alberta. Norman wells, a remote town in the northwest territories, ranks as the community with the most reported incidents on federallyregulated pipelines in the country, a fact thats surprised key comm. Dead man walking, a selfinduced coma, or a lull in proceedings call it what you want, but the latest lurch in the drawnout history of the mackenzie gas project does not bode well for the plan to commercialize canadas stranded arctic natural gas.
Map of proposed route of norman wells pipeline, 1981. Morrison, the sinking of the princess sophia and the alaska highway in world. Indianwhite relations in the yukon territory and, with w. Pipeline sizes vary from the 2inch 5centimetre diameter lines used in oilwell gathering systems to lines 30 feet 9 metres across in. Fort resolution residents oppose shells plan to do seismic work in the little buffalo river area which they use for hunting and trapping.
The town of norman wells is located on the north bank of the mackenzie river, 145 km south of the arctic circle and 684 km northwest of yellowknife by air. This fact book is designed to provide easy access to information about the transmission pipeline industry in canada. Reservoir, production and logistics the norman wells reservoir is a middle to late devonian carbonate reef complex. Presents the background information for each of the permafrost monitoring sites established along the norman wells to zama pipeline. From a geotechnical perspective, pipelines in permafrost face many additional design and operational challenges than do pipelines in nonpermafrost terrain. Pipelines the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. An environmental monitoring program and an environmental management committee that. In 1985 an 869 km pipeline stretching from norman wells to zama in northwest alberta was completed. Canol project archives stories of northern canada and. He has published widely on northern canadian history, and his books include canadas colonies. Major historical projects summary below, updated 7 09. Norman wells pipeline will be along the east side of the mac kenzie river to a point near fort simpson where it crosses. Click download or read online button to get norman wells to zama oil pipeline permafrost and terrain research and monitoring program book now. Today, its mandate is to preserve and promote the cultural and historical memory of the sahtu settlement area and its people.
The canadian oil pipeline, otherwise known as canol, completes a crude oil pipeline from norman wells, nt to whitehorse, yk. Jobs and accessa northern dilemma journal of canadian. Canadian archives canol pipeline, archival collections libraries. It wasnt until 1942, with the construction of the canol pipeline, that some of this oil was pumped across the mackenzie mountains to the yukon. In 1980, interprovincial pipe line company applied for regulatory approval from the national energy board to construct a small diameter oil pipeline from norman wells, nwt to zama, ab.
Six artificial islands were built on the mackenzie river, another 253 wells were drilled, and and 870kmlong pipeline was built to zama, alberta, where it connected. Pipeline industry overview types of pipelines pipe manufacture and coating fundamentals of pipeline design pumps and compressors prime movers construction practices and equipment welding techniques and equipment operation and control metering and storage maintenance and repair. Imperial oils norman wells oilfield site in the northwest territories is linked to canadas most northerly pipeline, built in 1985 by enbridge inc. This lively history of a great episode in american civil and military. The complicated history of building pipelines in canada may 30, 2018 6. By 1980, ambitious plans for oilfield recovery included construction of six artificial drilling islands in the mackenzie river and a 12inch pipeline to alberta. How norman wells led to leduc all of these options see bps description have evolved from the intense competition among the gas titans of the late 1960searly 70s see 1976 project map, left, and 2001 project map, right. The line was funded by the usa and strategically located safely within canada to supplement supply to the war effort protecting alaska from japanese incursion. An environmental monitoring program and an environmental management committee that directly involves dene will be put in. With the approval of the canadian government, washington drew up plans for the future alaska highway to connect edmonton, alberta, with fairbanks, alaska, and for a pipeline to connect the oil fields at norman wells, northwest territories, with the pacific coast. Norman wells, and the executive at present are out of town, so.
Development strategies for northern canada have powerful implications for native peoples and their way of life. Industry expert john kennedy details the oil and gas pipeline operation industry in this complete text. The pipeline would carry increased production of crude oil from norman wells to a transfer point in zama where it would then flow south in the rainbow pipeline to refineries in edmonton and on to southern markets in canada and the us. Enbridge completes leak detection digs on norman wells. Go back in time walk in the foot steps of the settlers of. Keeping the history of the sahtu alive originally dedicated to preserving the historical memory of the canol project, the norman wells historical societys mission has grown. Mackenzie valley pipeline project officially one for the history books.
The residual material history pipeline segments, truck graveyards, heaps. The canol pipeline was built during world war ii to move oil from the imperial oil field in norman wells to a refinery in whitehorse. More details in our older archives, here, and our newer archives, here peter mckenziebrown. The enbridge norman wells pipeline is owned by enbridge pipelines nw inc. The norman wells field, first reported by alexander mackenzie in 1789, is considered to be the fourth largest, single oil deposit in canada. Norman wells lovingly curated history museum showcases the multifaceted events that shaped this region. Unease over the environmental effects of pipeline construction and operation have grown.
Permafrost and thermal interfaces from norman wells pipeline. Norman wells oil production to resume after line 21 pipeline approved to reopen pipeline replacement project turns taps on spending in fort simpson, n. Imperial oil to suspend norman wells production due to. A war time major pipeline construction project of 9 months over a major mountain range as a way to provide life saving oil to alaska during ww ii. Norman wells is the regional centre for the sahtu region of the northwest territories, canada. The diand norman wells socioeconomic monitoring program. Canol road project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
The canol pipeline actually consisted of four sections. During the construction of the norman wells pipeline by interprovincial pipeline ltd in the early 1980s, a continuous ditchwall log was created during ditching for pipeline burial. Travis hay thunder bay, ontario is a city wellknown for a particularly explicit form of antiindigenous racism. It was the first episode of this podcast back then, bonnell was a doctoral student at the ontario institute for studies in education at the university of toronto working on her dissertation. Ive been posting about canadas part in the great joint project to create transportation through the far north to alaska. Norman wells pipeline settlement and uplift movements. The town is situated on the north side of the mackenzie river and provides a view down the valley of the franklin and richardson mountains. Colourful military vehicles from the building of the legendary canol road sit bumpertobumper in the yard, while inside youll find memorabilia from the oilboom nearly a century ago, displays on mackenzie river shipping and barging, and much more.
In 1920, a drilling team funded by imperial oil discovered a petroleum deposit along the shore of the mackenzie river north of the set tlement of fort norman. Alberta petroleum exploration and discovery 1875 1947. Norman wells to zama oil pipeline permafrost and terrain. Imperial oil restarts norman wells crude output after pipeline repairs. You can see the enbridge norman wells pipeline and all nebregulated pipelines on the boards interactive pipeline map. Much of the concern about northern development has centred on the impact of the wage. Though the pipeline was shut down and abandoned a year after it opened, outside interest in norman wells crude oil supplies continued to grow. Imperial oil restarts norman wells crude production after. The current expansion of production at norman wells is aimed at southern canadian markets and a pipeline is being constructed from norman wells to existing pipelines in northern alberta. A map showing the area of the proposed pipeline replacement. The februarymarch 2014 issue of canadas history magazine includes the story of a littleknown wartime pipelinebuilding project in canadas north. Norman wells, northwest territories, incorporated as a town in 1992, population 778 2016 census, 727 2011 census.