BC Gas Pipeline

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

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Project details

  • Owner: Enbridge[1][3]
  • Capacity: 3.4 billion cubic feet per day[1]
  • Length: 2953 kilometers[1]
  • Status: Operating[1]
  • Start Year: 1957[1]

Background

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.[4] T-South stretches from Chetwynd, British Columbia down to the southernmost point of the pipeline, at the Canadian/US border at Huntingdon/Sumas.[4] T-North includes pipeline routes north of Chetwynd.

Expansion projects

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.[5]

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.[6]

The Wynwood Expansion was commissioned in 2018.</ref name=ledcor/>

Wynwood Expansion location

The expansion runs for 27 kilometers near Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada.

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Wynwood Expansion details

  • Operator: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.
  • Capacity: 50 million cubic feet per day
  • Length: 27 kilometers
  • Status: Operating[7]
  • Start year: 2018

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.[8] The Jackfish Lake Expansion project was completed in 2017.[9]

Jackfish Lake Expansion location

The pipeline runs from Taylor to Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada.

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Jackfish Lake Expansion details

  • Operator: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.
  • Proposed capacity: 137.5 million cubic feet per day[10]
  • Proposed length: 36 kilometers[10]
  • Status: Operating[10]
  • Start year: 2017[10]

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.[11]

The Spruce Ridge Expansion Program received regulatory approval on December 10, 2018 and is expected in service date is 2020.[11]

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).[11]

Spruce Ridge Program: Aitken Creek Loop Expansion location

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.[11]

As of March 2021, the loop was in service.[11]

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Spruce Ridge Program: Aitken Creek Loop Expansion details

  • Owner: Enbridge[11]
  • Capacity: 60 million cubic feet per day (MMf/d)
  • Length: 13 kilometers
  • Status: Operating[11]
  • Start Year: 2021[11]

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.[11]

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.[11]

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).[11]

Spruce Ridge Program: Chetwynd Loop Expansion location

The Chetwynd Loop will start approximately 17 kilometers southwest of Chetwynd and end approximately 6.5 kilometers northeast of the district.[11]

Construction began in 2020, and the pipeline was expected to be operational as of September 2021.[11]

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Spruce Ridge Program: Chetwynd Loop Expansion details

  • Owner: Enbridge[11]
  • Capacity: 360 million cubic feet per day (MMf/d)
  • Length: 25 kilometers
  • Status: Construction[11]
  • Start year: 2021[11]

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, and as of August 2021, commissioning and startup were underway.[4]

An in-service date is expected for late 2021.[4]

T-South Reliability and Expansion Program location

The expansion is happening along the full route of the T-South portion.

T-South Reliability and Expansion Program details

  • Owner: Enbridge[4]
  • Capacity: 190 million cubic feet per day[4]
  • Length: 0 new kilometers
  • Status: Construction[4]
  • Start Year: 2021[4]

Articles and resources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Natural gas transmission and midstream, Enbridge, archived from the original on Aug. 31, 2021.
  2. ↑ Pipeline Profiles: Westcoast or BC Pipeline, Canada Energy Regulator, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.
  3. ↑ Enbridge’s Energy Infrastructure Assets, Enbridge, Jul. 22, 2020
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 T-South Reliability and Expansion Program, Enbridge, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.
  5. ↑ Planned Projects, Pipeline News, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.
  6. ↑ National Energy Board approves Wyndwood Pipeline Expansion Project, National Energy Board, August 10, 2017
  7. ↑ Wynwood Expansion, Ledcor, archived from the original on Aug. 31, 2021.
  8. ↑ Spectra proposes loops for Fort St. John Mainline, Alaska Highway News, accessed October 2018
  9. ↑ Energy pipelines, IUOE, accessed February 2019
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 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.
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 Spruce Ridge Program, Enbridge, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.

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