BC Gas Pipeline
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BC Gas Pipeline, also called the Westcoast Pipeline, is an operating natural gas pipeline in Canada.[1][2]
Location
The pipeline runs from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, to Sumas, Washington.[3]
Project details
Main Line
- Operator: Enbridge[1][4][5]
- Owner: Enbridge[1][4][5]
- Parent company: Enbridge[1][4][5]
- Length: 1,835 miles/2953 kilometers[1][5]
- Capacity: 3.6 billion cubic feet per day[1][5]
- Status: Operating[1][5]
- Start Year: 1957[1]
High Pine Expansion Project
- Operator: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.[6][7]
- Owner: Enbridge[7]
- Parent company: Enbridge[7]
- Length: 39 kilometers[7][6]
- Capacity: 240 MMscfd[7]
- Diameter: 42 inches[7]
- Status: Operating[8]
- Start year: 2018[8]
Wynwood Expansion
- Operator: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.[9]
- Owner: Enbridge[5]
- Parent company: Enbridge[5]
- Length: 27 kilometers[9]
- Capacity: 50 million cubic feet per day
- Status: Operating[10]
- Start year: 2018[11][12]
Jackfish Lake Expansion
- Operator: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.
- Owner: Enbridge[5]
- Parent company: Enbridge[5]
- Capacity: 137.5 million cubic feet per day[13]
- Length: 36 kilometers[13]
- Status: Operating[13][14]
- Start year: 2017[13][14]
Spruce Ridge Program: Aitken Creek Loop Expansion
- Operator: Enbridge[15][16]
- Owner: Enbridge[15][16]
- Parent company: Enbridge[15][16]
- Length: 13 kilometers[16]
- Capacity: 60 million cubic feet per day (MMf/d)
- Status: Operating[15][16]
- Start Year: 2021[15][16]
Spruce Ridge Program: Chetwynd Loop Expansion
- Operator: Enbridge[15][16]
- Owner: Enbridge[15][16]
- Parent company: Enbridge[15][16]
- Length: 25 kilometers[16]
- Capacity: 360 million cubic feet per day (MMf/d)
- Status: Operating[16]
- Start year: 2021[15][16]
T-South Reliability and Expansion Program
- Operator: Enbridge[17][16]
- Owner: Enbridge[17][16]
- Parent company: Enbridge[17][16]
- Length: 0 new kilometers
- Capacity: 190 million cubic feet per day[17]
- Status: Operating[17][16]
- Start Year: 2021[17][16]
Aspen Point Program
- Operator: Westcoast Energy Inc[18]
- Owner: Westcoast Energy Inc[18]
- Parent company: Enbridge[18]
- Length: 18 kilometers[18]
- Capacity: 535 million cubic feet per day[18]
- Status: Proposed[18]
- Start Year: 2026[18]
Birch Grove Program
- Operator: Westcoast Energy Inc[19]
- Owner: Westcoast Energy Inc[19]
- Parent company: Enbridge[19]
- Length: 32 kilometers[19]
- Diameter: 36 inches[19]
- Capacity: 178 million cubic feet per day[19]
- Status: Proposed[19]
- Start Year: 2028[19]
Background
Main Line
The BC Gas Pipeline extends from Fort Nelson to the US-Canadian border at Huntingdon-Sumas. The system transports approximately 60% of the natural gas produced in British Columbia and supplies approximately half the natural gas demand in the US states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
The system is divided into a T-South and T-North section.[17] T-South stretches from Chetwynd, British Columbia down to the southernmost point of the pipeline, at the Canadian/US border at Huntingdon/Sumas.[17] T-North includes pipeline routes north of Chetwynd.
Wynwood Expansion
An expansion project called the Wynwood Pipeline Expansion Project added 50 million cubic feet per day and 27 kilometers of pipeline near Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada.[20]
In August of 2017, Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) approved the Wyndwood Pipeline Expansion Project. The NEB attached 32 conditions to its approval, including the requirement to develop a Landowner-Specific Monitoring Plan and Consultation Update and a number of conditions related to minimizing disturbances within caribou ranges and accelerating the restoration of caribou habitat.[21][9]
The Wynwood Expansion was commissioned in 2018.
The expansion runs for 27 kilometers near Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada.[9]
Jackfish Lake Expansion
There is another proposed expansion project called Jackfish Lake Expansion. The first looping segment will start south of Taylor, on the south side of the Peace River, running about 12 kilometres. The second segment will start at the Pine River and run about 24 kilometres ending northeast of Chetwynd. Looping segments allow pipelines to have extra capacity, without increasing the pressure on the line. The project will also include a new compressor station, and modifications to an existing one in order to accommodate the increased volume of gas. When complete, the pipeline loop will add 137.5 million cubic feet per day of transportation capacity to Spectra Energy’s BC Pipeline, which transports processed, sales-quality natural gas - from facility primarily in Northeast B.C. - to markets throughout the province and the United States. Pending regulatory approval, construction is expected to begin in 2016, with an in-service date expected in late 2016 or early 2017. Spectra notes this timeline is subject to change.[22] The Jackfish Lake Expansion project was completed in 2017.[23]
The pipeline runs from Taylor to Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada.
Spruce Ridge Program: Aitken Creek Loop Expansion
Enbridge added two new sections of pipeline and additional compression to existing facilities on its natural gas transmission system in northeastern British Columbia, called the Spruce Ridge Program. The new sections of pipeline, called loops, are constructed as separate segments that run largely parallel to the existing pipeline. The two new pipeline loops, called Aitken Creek and Chetwynd, along with accompanying compression upgrades, will increase the transportation capacity of the system. Collectively, these projects will increase transportation capacity by up to 402 million cubic feet per day.[15]
The Spruce Ridge Expansion Program received regulatory approval on December 10, 2018 and is expected in service date is 2020.[15]
The Aitken Creek Loop will start at the Aitken Creek Gas Plant, located approximately 103 kilometers (km) northwest of Fort St. John, and end just west of the Highway Gas Plant, located approximately 109 km northwest of Fort St. John. The proposed loop will be 24-inches in diameter and approximately 13 km in length. These upgrades will increase the transportation capacity of this pipeline system by up to 60 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d).[15]
The Aitken Creek Loop will start at the Aitken Creek Gas Plant, located approximately 103 kilometers (km) northwest of Fort St. John, and end just west of the Highway Gas Plant, located approximately 109 km northwest of Fort St. John.[15]
As of March 2021, the loop was in service.[15]
Spruce Ridge Program: Chetwynd Loop Expansion
Enbridge is planning to add two new sections of pipeline and additional compression to existing facilities on its natural gas transmission system in northeastern British Columbia, called the Spruce Ridge Program. The new sections of pipeline, called loops, will be constructed as separate segments that largely parallel the existing pipeline. The two new pipeline loops, called Aitken Creek and Chetwynd, along with accompanying compression upgrades, will increase the transportation capacity of the system. Collectively, these projects will increase transportation capacity by up to 402 million cubic feet per day.[15]
The Spruce Ridge Expansion Program received regulatory approval on December 10, 2018. Enbridge is currently deciding when to begin construction. Its expected in service date is 2020.[15]
The Chetwynd Loop will start approximately 17 km southwest of Chetwynd and end approximately 6.5 km northeast of the district. The majority of the loop will parallel the existing natural gas pipeline right-of-way, with approximately 13 km proceeding through a greenfield route south of Chetwynd. The proposed loop will be 36-inches in diameter and approximately 25 km in length. These upgrades will increase the eastbound transportation capacity of this pipeline system by up to 360 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d).[15]
The Chetwynd Loop will start approximately 17 kilometers southwest of Chetwynd and end approximately 6.5 kilometers northeast of the district.[15]
Construction began in 2020, and the pipeline was expected to be operational as of September 2021.[15]
T-South Reliability and Expansion Program
Enbridge is undertaking upgrades that will add an additional capacity of 190 million cubic feet per day. Preliminary work began in 2019, construction started in the Canadian spring of 2020.[17]
The expansion is happening along the full route of the T-South portion.
Aspen Point Program
Enbridge is adding 3 segments of pipeline parallel to the existing pipelines in Yellowhead County, Alberta, totaling 18 new kilometers. The project was approved by the Canada Energy Regulator in December 2024 and construction is expected to begin in 2025. In addition to the pipeline segments, the project includes compressor units with powerlines, a new meter station, and modifications to associated compressor stations.[18]
Birch Grove Program
This expansion, not yet formally proposed, would increase capacity in the T-North system through the installation of approximately 32 km of pipeline and the replacement of existing segments. Compressor stations would also be modified. The project aims for an in-service date of 2028.[19]
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Natural gas transmission and midstream, Enbridge, archived from the original on Aug. 31, 2021.
- ↑ Pipeline Profiles: Westcoast or BC Pipeline, Canada Energy Regulator, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.
- ↑ "BC Pipeline" (PDF). Enbridge. Retrieved 17 August, 2023.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Enbridge’s Energy Infrastructure Assets, Enbridge, Jul. 22, 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 "Interactive map". Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Spectra High Pine Expansion Pipeline | EXP". EXP. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Project Update" (PDF). Enbridge. 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Release Details - Enbridge Inc". www.enbridge.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Government of Canada, Canada Energy Regulator. "CER – Westcoast Energy Inc., doing business as Spectra Energy Transmission – Wyndwood Pipeline Expansion Project". www.cer-rec.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- ↑ Wynwood Expansion, Ledcor, archived from the original on Aug. 31, 2021.
- ↑ "Canada Pipeline Project Work- 2017 Edition" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ https://cdn.mchn.io/media/attachment/717.pdf
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Chris Newton, Spectra begins construction of Jackfish Lake Expansion after NEB approval, Energetic City, Aug. 24, 2016, archived from the original on Aug. 31, 2021.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Release Details - Enbridge Inc". www.enbridge.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 Spruce Ridge Program, Enbridge, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.
- ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 16.16 "The Journey Ahead: 2022 Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan" (PDF). Enbridge. 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8 T-South Reliability and Expansion Program, Enbridge, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 "Aspen Point Program". Retrieved 2025-06-16.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 19.8 "Birch Grove Program". Retrieved 2025-06-16.
- ↑ Planned Projects, Pipeline News, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.
- ↑ National Energy Board approves Wyndwood Pipeline Expansion Project, National Energy Board, August 10, 2017
- ↑ Spectra proposes loops for Fort St. John Mainline, Alaska Highway News, accessed October 2018
- ↑ Energy pipelines, IUOE, accessed February 2019
