Access Pipeline System

This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

Sub-articles:

FrackSwarm portal Coal terminals Coal transport and infrastructure Oil and gas pipelines LNG terminals Pipeline construction costs Methodology and data notes

Access Pipeline System is an operating pipeline system in Alberta, Canada.

System details

The Access Pipeline System consists of two distinct pipeline networks. One transports diluent from Edmonton to the Wood Buffalo area, and the second transports comingled bitument and diluent or "blend" from Wood Buffalo to Edmonton for distribution. This system also includes the Sturgeon Terminal and the Stonefell Terminal tank farm.

Access Dilbit Pipeline

The pipeline runs between the Christina Lake area of Northeastern Alberta, Canada and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It carries dilbit (diluted bitumen), a diluted version of tar sands bitumen that allows it to flow through pipelines.

Loading map...

{"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"400px","height":"300px","centre":{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":54.585993080000001,"lon":-112.24795868,"icon":""},"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","strokeColor":"#FF0000","strokeOpacity":"1","strokeWeight":"2","pos":[{"lat":55.670793770000003,"lon":-110.73418749},{"lat":55.65405123,"lon":-110.70662582999999},{"lat":55.643284389999998,"lon":-110.70874596},{"lat":55.63251459,"lon":-110.72358685},{"lat":55.621741819999997,"lon":-110.72358685},{"lat":55.570231069999998,"lon":-110.72570698},{"lat":55.56543593,"lon":-110.83807375000001},{"lat":55.559441190000001,"lon":-110.85291463999999},{"lat":55.546249529999997,"lon":-110.85291463999999},{"lat":55.524653630000003,"lon":-110.86563541},{"lat":55.48863411,"lon":-110.87199579},{"lat":55.447772129999997,"lon":-110.8804763},{"lat":55.434543009999999,"lon":-110.8804763},{"lat":55.412885789999997,"lon":-110.89743731999999},{"lat":55.387604019999998,"lon":-110.92711911000001},{"lat":55.370740519999998,"lon":-110.96528141},{"lat":55.357485590000003,"lon":-110.99920346},{"lat":55.35025375,"lon":-111.02252486},{"lat":55.35025375,"lon":-111.08188844},{"lat":55.351459149999997,"lon":-111.13913187999999},{"lat":55.349048320000001,"lon":-111.19001495000001},{"lat":55.349048320000001,"lon":-111.24513827},{"lat":55.341814939999999,"lon":-111.28118044},{"lat":55.332168379999999,"lon":-111.30662196999999},{"lat":55.308041709999998,"lon":-111.33630376000001},{"lat":55.12783546,"lon":-111.55043666},{"lat":55.114499279999997,"lon":-111.57163794},{"lat":55.085386700000001,"lon":-111.59919960000001},{"lat":55.057467250000002,"lon":-111.62464113},{"lat":55.044107580000002,"lon":-111.63524176999999},{"lat":55.035603649999999,"lon":-111.63312164},{"lat":55.025882670000001,"lon":-111.65644304999999},{"lat":54.951682580000003,"lon":-111.71368649999999},{"lat":54.934633689999998,"lon":-111.72428714},{"lat":54.92245149,"lon":-111.73488777},{"lat":54.910265600000002,"lon":-111.77305007},{"lat":54.894418420000001,"lon":-111.77092995},{"lat":54.88588274,"lon":-111.77517020000001},{"lat":54.882224039999997,"lon":-111.79213122},{"lat":54.877345249999998,"lon":-111.79637148},{"lat":54.806536459999997,"lon":-111.79637148},{"lat":54.788203619999997,"lon":-111.79425135},{"lat":54.77475424,"lon":-111.79637148},{"lat":54.760077099999997,"lon":-111.81121237000001},{"lat":54.758853770000002,"lon":-111.82181301},{"lat":54.760077099999997,"lon":-111.88753697},{"lat":54.758853770000002,"lon":-111.91933889000001},{"lat":54.744170859999997,"lon":-111.93417977999999},{"lat":54.733155179999997,"lon":-111.95326093},{"lat":54.731931029999998,"lon":-111.98082259},{"lat":54.731931029999998,"lon":-112.00626412},{"lat":54.687837029999997,"lon":-112.00626412},{"lat":54.658414389999997,"lon":-112.03594591},{"lat":54.633879239999999,"lon":-112.07622834},{"lat":54.62406103,"lon":-112.10591012},{"lat":54.610557120000003,"lon":-112.14831268},{"lat":54.593363850000003,"lon":-112.19919573999999},{"lat":54.585993080000001,"lon":-112.24795868},{"lat":54.570018509999997,"lon":-112.29672162},{"lat":54.55157852,"lon":-112.33276379},{"lat":54.524518129999997,"lon":-112.36244558},{"lat":54.487588670000001,"lon":-112.39000724},{"lat":54.458021070000001,"lon":-112.41332864},{"lat":54.446927709999997,"lon":-112.42392928},{"lat":54.417330710000002,"lon":-112.46633184},{"lat":54.207072699999998,"lon":-112.75890946},{"lat":54.189709440000001,"lon":-112.76738997},{"lat":54.179784290000001,"lon":-112.78011074},{"lat":54.161168230000001,"lon":-112.79283151},{"lat":54.099054170000002,"lon":-112.89671776},{"lat":54.082889260000002,"lon":-112.91367879000001},{"lat":54.061741019999999,"lon":-112.9221593},{"lat":54.014429530000001,"lon":-112.97940275000001},{"lat":54.009446240000003,"lon":-112.99424363999999},{"lat":54.003216289999997,"lon":-113.00060402},{"lat":53.982027479999999,"lon":-113.00696440999999},{"lat":53.97704031,"lon":-113.01332479},{"lat":53.975793420000002,"lon":-113.04724683000001},{"lat":53.939617499999997,"lon":-113.05784747},{"lat":53.91714769,"lon":-113.10025003},{"lat":53.894665779999997,"lon":-113.10449027999999},{"lat":53.877171490000002,"lon":-113.1214513},{"lat":53.867171460000002,"lon":-113.13205194},{"lat":53.840284539999999,"lon":-113.13417207000001},{"lat":53.810250830000001,"lon":-113.0981299},{"lat":53.775184269999997,"lon":-113.10025003},{"lat":53.760146779999999,"lon":-113.11085066},{"lat":53.746357670000002,"lon":-113.13417207000001},{"lat":53.682367210000002,"lon":-113.14265258},{"lat":53.659759100000002,"lon":-113.1977759},{"lat":53.639652810000001,"lon":-113.23169794},{"lat":53.63462474,"lon":-113.22957782},{"lat":53.630853299999998,"lon":-113.26349986},{"lat":53.614506470000002,"lon":-113.2741005},{"lat":53.611991009999997,"lon":-113.31650304999999},{"lat":53.588086680000004,"lon":-113.3737465},{"lat":53.566687129999998,"lon":-113.37162637},{"lat":53.545276749999999,"lon":-113.38858740000001}]},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","strokeColor":"#FF0000","strokeOpacity":"1","strokeWeight":"2","pos":[{"lat":53.83778255,"lon":-113.12993181},{"lat":53.816509619999998,"lon":-113.15537335}]},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","strokeColor":"#FF0000","strokeOpacity":"1","strokeWeight":"2","pos":[{"lat":53.771425409999999,"lon":-113.10237015},{"lat":53.772678399999997,"lon":-113.15749347000001},{"lat":53.750118790000002,"lon":-113.17021424000001}]}],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":6,"layers":[],"controls":["pan","zoom","type","scale","streetview","rotate"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[]}

• Operator:
• Owner: Wolf Midstream (100%)
• Parent company: Wolf Midstream (100%)
• Capacity:
• Length: 350 kilometers
  • 300 kilometers (42 inches)
  • 50 kilometers (30 inches)
• Diameter: 30, 42 inches
• Status: Operating
• Start year: 2007
• Cost:
• Financing:
• Associated infrastructure:

The pipeline was originally owned by Wolf Midstream (50%) and Devon Energy (50%), but Devon Energy sold its interest to Wolf Midstream in 2016.

Access Diluent Pipeline

Loading map...

{"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"400px","height":"300px","centre":{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":54.585993080000001,"lon":-112.24795868,"icon":""},"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","strokeColor":"#FF0000","strokeOpacity":"1","strokeWeight":"2","pos":[{"lat":55.670793770000003,"lon":-110.73418749},{"lat":55.65405123,"lon":-110.70662582999999},{"lat":55.643284389999998,"lon":-110.70874596},{"lat":55.63251459,"lon":-110.72358685},{"lat":55.621741819999997,"lon":-110.72358685},{"lat":55.570231069999998,"lon":-110.72570698},{"lat":55.56543593,"lon":-110.83807375000001},{"lat":55.559441190000001,"lon":-110.85291463999999},{"lat":55.546249529999997,"lon":-110.85291463999999},{"lat":55.524653630000003,"lon":-110.86563541},{"lat":55.48863411,"lon":-110.87199579},{"lat":55.447772129999997,"lon":-110.8804763},{"lat":55.434543009999999,"lon":-110.8804763},{"lat":55.412885789999997,"lon":-110.89743731999999},{"lat":55.387604019999998,"lon":-110.92711911000001},{"lat":55.370740519999998,"lon":-110.96528141},{"lat":55.357485590000003,"lon":-110.99920346},{"lat":55.35025375,"lon":-111.02252486},{"lat":55.35025375,"lon":-111.08188844},{"lat":55.351459149999997,"lon":-111.13913187999999},{"lat":55.349048320000001,"lon":-111.19001495000001},{"lat":55.349048320000001,"lon":-111.24513827},{"lat":55.341814939999999,"lon":-111.28118044},{"lat":55.332168379999999,"lon":-111.30662196999999},{"lat":55.308041709999998,"lon":-111.33630376000001},{"lat":55.12783546,"lon":-111.55043666},{"lat":55.114499279999997,"lon":-111.57163794},{"lat":55.085386700000001,"lon":-111.59919960000001},{"lat":55.057467250000002,"lon":-111.62464113},{"lat":55.044107580000002,"lon":-111.63524176999999},{"lat":55.035603649999999,"lon":-111.63312164},{"lat":55.025882670000001,"lon":-111.65644304999999},{"lat":54.951682580000003,"lon":-111.71368649999999},{"lat":54.934633689999998,"lon":-111.72428714},{"lat":54.92245149,"lon":-111.73488777},{"lat":54.910265600000002,"lon":-111.77305007},{"lat":54.894418420000001,"lon":-111.77092995},{"lat":54.88588274,"lon":-111.77517020000001},{"lat":54.882224039999997,"lon":-111.79213122},{"lat":54.877345249999998,"lon":-111.79637148},{"lat":54.806536459999997,"lon":-111.79637148},{"lat":54.788203619999997,"lon":-111.79425135},{"lat":54.77475424,"lon":-111.79637148},{"lat":54.760077099999997,"lon":-111.81121237000001},{"lat":54.758853770000002,"lon":-111.82181301},{"lat":54.760077099999997,"lon":-111.88753697},{"lat":54.758853770000002,"lon":-111.91933889000001},{"lat":54.744170859999997,"lon":-111.93417977999999},{"lat":54.733155179999997,"lon":-111.95326093},{"lat":54.731931029999998,"lon":-111.98082259},{"lat":54.731931029999998,"lon":-112.00626412},{"lat":54.687837029999997,"lon":-112.00626412},{"lat":54.658414389999997,"lon":-112.03594591},{"lat":54.633879239999999,"lon":-112.07622834},{"lat":54.62406103,"lon":-112.10591012},{"lat":54.610557120000003,"lon":-112.14831268},{"lat":54.593363850000003,"lon":-112.19919573999999},{"lat":54.585993080000001,"lon":-112.24795868},{"lat":54.570018509999997,"lon":-112.29672162},{"lat":54.55157852,"lon":-112.33276379},{"lat":54.524518129999997,"lon":-112.36244558},{"lat":54.487588670000001,"lon":-112.39000724},{"lat":54.458021070000001,"lon":-112.41332864},{"lat":54.446927709999997,"lon":-112.42392928},{"lat":54.417330710000002,"lon":-112.46633184},{"lat":54.207072699999998,"lon":-112.75890946},{"lat":54.189709440000001,"lon":-112.76738997},{"lat":54.179784290000001,"lon":-112.78011074},{"lat":54.161168230000001,"lon":-112.79283151},{"lat":54.099054170000002,"lon":-112.89671776},{"lat":54.082889260000002,"lon":-112.91367879000001},{"lat":54.061741019999999,"lon":-112.9221593},{"lat":54.014429530000001,"lon":-112.97940275000001},{"lat":54.009446240000003,"lon":-112.99424363999999},{"lat":54.003216289999997,"lon":-113.00060402},{"lat":53.982027479999999,"lon":-113.00696440999999},{"lat":53.97704031,"lon":-113.01332479},{"lat":53.975793420000002,"lon":-113.04724683000001},{"lat":53.939617499999997,"lon":-113.05784747},{"lat":53.91714769,"lon":-113.10025003},{"lat":53.894665779999997,"lon":-113.10449027999999},{"lat":53.877171490000002,"lon":-113.1214513},{"lat":53.867171460000002,"lon":-113.13205194},{"lat":53.840284539999999,"lon":-113.13417207000001},{"lat":53.810250830000001,"lon":-113.0981299},{"lat":53.775184269999997,"lon":-113.10025003},{"lat":53.760146779999999,"lon":-113.11085066},{"lat":53.746357670000002,"lon":-113.13417207000001},{"lat":53.682367210000002,"lon":-113.14265258},{"lat":53.659759100000002,"lon":-113.1977759},{"lat":53.639652810000001,"lon":-113.23169794},{"lat":53.63462474,"lon":-113.22957782},{"lat":53.630853299999998,"lon":-113.26349986},{"lat":53.614506470000002,"lon":-113.2741005},{"lat":53.611991009999997,"lon":-113.31650304999999},{"lat":53.588086680000004,"lon":-113.3737465},{"lat":53.566687129999998,"lon":-113.37162637},{"lat":53.545276749999999,"lon":-113.38858740000001}]},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","strokeColor":"#FF0000","strokeOpacity":"1","strokeWeight":"2","pos":[{"lat":53.83778255,"lon":-113.12993181},{"lat":53.816509619999998,"lon":-113.15537335}]},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","strokeColor":"#FF0000","strokeOpacity":"1","strokeWeight":"2","pos":[{"lat":53.771425409999999,"lon":-113.10237015},{"lat":53.772678399999997,"lon":-113.15749347000001},{"lat":53.750118790000002,"lon":-113.17021424000001}]}],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":6,"layers":[],"controls":["pan","zoom","type","scale","streetview","rotate"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[]}

• Operator:
• Owner: Wolf Midstream (100%)
• Parent company: Wolf Midstream (100%)
• Capacity:
• Length: 350 kilometers
• Diameter: 16, 24 inches
• Status: Operating
• Start year: 2007
• Cost:
• Financing:
• Associated infrastructure:

Access NGL North Pipeline

Loading map...

{"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"400px","height":"300px","centre":{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":54.585993080000001,"lon":-112.24795868,"icon":""},"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","strokeColor":"#FF0000","strokeOpacity":"1","strokeWeight":"2","pos":[]}],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":6,"layers":[],"controls":["pan","zoom","type","scale","streetview","rotate"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[]}

• Operator:
• Owner: Wolf Midstream (100%)
• Parent company: Wolf Midstream (100%)
• Capacity:
• Length: 100 kilometers
• Diameter: 16 inches
• Status: Operating
• Start year: 2007
• Cost:
• Financing:
• Associated infrastructure:

Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL)

The ACTL is described as a multi-party, open access pipeline designed for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The system currently gathers 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂ per year and has an ultimate capacity of 14.6 million tonnes of CO₂.

Loading map...

{"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"400px","height":"300px","centre":{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":54.585993080000001,"lon":-112.24795868,"icon":""},"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","strokeColor":"#FF0000","strokeOpacity":"1","strokeWeight":"2","pos":[]}],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":6,"layers":[],"controls":["pan","zoom","type","scale","streetview","rotate"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[]}

• Operator:
• Owner: Wolf Midstream (100%)
• Parent company: Wolf Midstream (100%)
• Capacity:
• Length: 240 kilometers
• Diameter: 16 inches
• Status: Operating
• Start year: 2020
• Cost:
• Financing:
• Associated infrastructure:

Background

In 2016, Wolf Midstream acquired the remaining 50% ownership interest in the Access Pipeline System from Devon Energy Corp. (Devon) for $1.4 billion.