If they use the same sort of care that they used with the Alaska pipeline, then I agree that it should not be a major issue. The engineering that was required for the Alaska pipeline was rigorous. As someone who has spent almost 40 years working in the oil and gas business knows, this is not always the case.

The bottom line with the Keystone XL pipeline is that it will take Canadian oil to an export terminal in a more efficient manner than crossing the Canadian Rockies. They really don't have another way to market this oil. They don't need it in Canada right now and we really don't need it in the US since our oil production has been increasing. However, with the fall of oil prices to $46/bbl, it remains to be seen if it will be economic for the Canadians to produce this expensive tar sands oil even if there is a pipeline. It may be that this pipeline is obsolete before it is ever built.

Ted