Properties of Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that forms naturally from hydrocarbons produced millions of years ago when plant and animal remains were buried beneath layers of soil and rock. Over time, heat and pressure combined to transform this mass into fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas.

Natural gas is more than 90% pure methane, the lightest hydrocarbon.

Signs of a Leak
Unlike the natural gas that heats your home, natural gas in many transmission pipelines is not odorized. If there is a leak, you will not smell rotten eggs. Leaks rarely occur on our system but there are signs you can watch out for that may indicate a possible leak:

• Discoloured plants in an area (dead vegetation);
• Frost on the ground when the ambient temperature is above zero; or
• Bubbles in freestanding water such as sloughs.

Characteristics common to Natural Gas
In the unlikely event of a release along the TransGas pipeline system, the following characteristics are common to natural gas:

1. Volatility: extremely flammable and explosive
2. Odour: odourless unless odourant is added to make it smell like rotten eggs
3. Appearance: steam-like cloud or frost-like appearance on the ground
4. Special Behaviour: lighter than air and can displace oxygen if confined in a building
5. Noise: releases from a TGL pipeline have a potential to exceed 100 dba
6. Toxicity: non-toxic

What to Do
Initial Response:

1. Stay upwind
2. Do not approach a leak or suspected leak
3. Immediately Call TransGas Gas Control: 1-306-777-9800
4. If you are the first responding agency to the site, set up a Command Post and act as the Incident Commander
5. Block off road access to incident area - minimum 1.61 km (1 mile) radius; detour vehicles and direct personnel to stay clear of area
6. Remove all sources of ignition, including portable radios and cellular phones
7. If there are residents within the restricted area, consider evacuating
8. Ensure TransGas representatives have immediate access to the site
9. Implement your local Emergency Plan