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. There are two ongoing pipeline expansions adding 25 miles in Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada and Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada.

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Project Details

  • Owner: Enbridge[3]
  • Capacity: 2,900 million cubic feet per day[3]
  • Length: 1,776 miles / 2,858 kilometers[3]
  • Status: Operating
  • Start Year: 1957

Background

The BC Gas Pipeline extends from Fort Nelson to the US-Canadian border at Huntingdon-Sumas. The system transports approximately 60 percent of the natural gas produced in British Columbia, and supplies approximately half the natural gas demand in the American states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Expansion Projects

Wynwood Pipeline Expansion

There is an additional proposed expansion project called the Wynwood Pipeline Expansion Project, which would add 50 million cubic feet per day and 17 miles of pipeline near Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada. It is currently awaiting NEB approval.[4]

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.[5]

There have been no development updates since 2017 and the project is presumed to be shelved.

Wynwood Expansion Location

The pipeline runs for 17 miles near Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada.

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Wynwood Expansion Details

  • Operator: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.
  • Proposed capacity: 50 million cubic feet per day
  • Proposed length: 17 mi / 27.4 km
  • Status: Shelved
  • Start Year:

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.[6] The Jackfish Lake Expansion project was completed in 2017.[7]

Jackfish Lake Expansion Location

The pipeline will run 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 (MMf/d)
  • Proposed length: 22.4 miles / 36 kilometers
  • Status: Operating
  • Start Year:

Aitken Creek 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 (MMcf/d).[8]

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.[8]

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).[8]

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.[8]

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Aitken Creek Loop Expansion Details

  • Owner: Enbridge[8]
  • Capacity: 60 million cubic feet per day (MMf/d)
  • Length: 8.1 miles / 13 kilometers
  • Status: Operating[8]
  • Start Year: 2021[8]

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 (MMcf/d).[8]

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.[8]

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).[8]

Chetwynd Loop Expansion Location

The Chetwynd Loop will start approximately 17 km southwest of Chetwynd and end approximately 6.5 km northeast of the district.[8]

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Chetwynd Loop Expansion Details

  • Owner: Enbridge[8]
  • Capacity: 360 million cubic feet per day (MMf/d)
  • Length: 15.5 miles / 25 kilometers
  • Status: Construction[8]
  • Start Year: 2021[8]

Articles and resources

References

  1. ↑ Natural gas pipelines and processing, Enbridge, accessed 13 December 2017
  2. ↑ Pipeline Profiles: Westcoast or BC Pipeline, Canada Energy Regulator, June 2020
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Enbridge’s Energy Infrastructure Assets Enbrdige, July 22, 2020
  4. ↑ Planned Projects, Pipeline News, accessed October 2018
  5. ↑ National Energy Board approves Wyndwood Pipeline Expansion Project, National Energy Board, August 10, 2017
  6. ↑ Spectra proposes loops for Fort St. John Mainline, Alaska Highway News, accessed October 2018
  7. ↑ Energy pipelines, IUOE, accessed February 2019
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 Spruce Ridge Program Enbridge, accessed October 18, 2019

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