Nova Gas Transmission (NGTL) Pipeline

From Global Energy Monitor
Part of the
Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker,
a Global Energy Monitor project.
Download full dataset
Report an error
Related categories:

Nova Gas Transmission (NGTL) Pipeline, also called the Alberta Gas Pipeline System, is an operating natural gas pipeline in northwestern Canada.[1]

Location

The pipeline runs from Foothills, Saskatchewan, to Fort Nelson, British Columbia with significant lateral extensions into Alberta.[1]

Loading map...

Project Details

Main Line

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[1]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[1]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[1]
  • Capacity: 16,800 million cubic feet per day[1]
  • Length: 24,500 kilometers[2][3]
  • Status: Operating[3]
  • Start Year: 1957[2]

Towerbirch Expansion Project

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[4]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[4]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[4]
  • Length: 87 kilometers[4]
  • Diameter: 762 millimeters (lateral), 914 millimeters (mainline)[4]
  • Status: Operating[5]
  • Start year: 2017[5]

2017 NGTL System Expansion Project

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[6]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[6]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[7]
  • Length: 230 km[7]
  • Status: Operating[6]
  • Start year: 2018[7]

Sundre Crossover Project

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[8]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[8]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[8]
  • Length: 21 kilometers[8]
  • Capacity: 2.5 billion cubic feet per day[8]
  • Diameter: 42 inches[8]
  • Status: Operating[8][9]
  • Start year: 2018[8]
  • Cost: C$100 million[8]

2018 NGTL System Expansion Project

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[10]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[10]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[10]
  • Length: 55 miles / 88.5 km[10]
  • Capacity: 2.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d)[10]
  • Status: Cancelled[10]

Saddle West Pipeline

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[11]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[11]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[11]
  • Length: 29 kilometers / 18 miles
  • Capacity: 355 million cubic feet per day[12]
  • Status: Operation[11]
  • Start year: 2019[11]

2019 NGTL System Expansion Project

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[10]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[10]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[10]
  • Length: 171 miles / 275.2 km[10]
  • Capacity: 3 billion cubic feet per day[10]
  • Status: Cancelled
  • Start year: 2019[10]

NGTL West Path Delivery 2020

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[13]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[13]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[13]
  • Length: 21.5 kilometers[13]
  • Status: Operating[14]
  • Start year: 2020

North Central Corridor (NCC) Loop (North Star Section 1)

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[15]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[15]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[15]
  • Length: 23 kilometers[15]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[15]
  • Status: Operating[15]
  • Start year: 2020[15]

Saddle Lake Lateral Loop

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[16]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[16]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[16]
  • Length: 20 kilometers[16]
  • Diameter: 20 inches[16]
  • Status: Operating[16]
  • Start year: 2022[16] (presumed delay from 2021)

NGTL West Path Delivery 2022

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[17]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[17]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[17]
  • Length: 36 kilometers[17]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[17]
  • Status: Operating[17]
  • Start year: 2022[17]

Foothills Zone 8 West Path Delivery 2022

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[17]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[17]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[17]
  • Length: 13 kilometers[17]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[17]
  • Status: Operating[18]
  • Start year: 2022[17]

Edson Mainline Project

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[19]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[19]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[7]
  • Length: 85 kilometers[20][19]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[19]
  • Status: Operating[19]
  • Start year: 2022[20][19]

NGTL West Path Delivery 2023

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[21]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[21]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[21]
  • Capacity: 175 TJ/d[22]
  • Length: 70 kilometers[21]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[21]
  • Status: Operating[21]
  • Start year: 2023[21]
  • Cost: C$355.5 million[22]

Foothills Zone 8 West Path Delivery 2023

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[21]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[21]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[21]
  • Length: 32 kilometers[21]
  • Capacity: 162 TJ/d[22]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[21]
  • Status: Operating[21]
  • Start year: 2023[21]
  • Cost: C$402 million[22]

North Central Corridor (NCC) Loop (North Star Section 2)

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[23]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[23]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[23]
  • Length: 24 kilometers[23]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[23]
  • Status: Operating[23]
  • Start year: 2023[23]

North Central Corridor (NCC) Loop (Red Earth Section 3)

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[23]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[23]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[23]
  • Length: 32 kilometers[23]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[24]
  • Status: Operating[23]
  • Start year: 2023[23]

Northwest Mainline (NWML) Loop No. 2 (Bear Canyon North Extension Section)

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[23]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[23]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[23]
  • Length: 25 kilometers[23]
  • Diameter: 36 inches[23]
  • Status: Operating[23]
  • Start year: 2023[23]

Groundbirch Mainline Loop (Saturn Section)

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[25]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[25]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[25]
  • Length: 23 kilometers[25]
  • Capacity: 339 million cubic feet per day[26]
  • Diameter: 42 inches[25]
  • Status: Operating[27]
  • Start year: 2023[27]
  • Cost: C$144 million[27]

2021 NGTL System Expansion Project

  • Operator: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[28]
  • Owner: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.[28]
  • Parent company: TC Energy[29]
  • Length: 213.75 miles / 344 km[28]
  • Capacity: 1.45 billion cubic feet per day[28]
  • Diameter: 48 inches[28]
  • Status: Operating[28]
  • Start year: 2024[28]
  • Cost: C$2.3 billion[30]

Medicine Hat Looping Project

Background

The Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. system (NGTL) consists of more than 25,000 km of natural gas pipeline and associated facilities located in Alberta and northeastern British Columbia. NGTL has over 1,100 receipt points and over 300 delivery points. The average daily capacity is 16,800 million cubic feet per day. The system came under Canada's National Energy Board jurisdiction in 2009 and is wholly-owned by TC Energy. [1]

NGTL is divided into three areas: Peace River, North and East, and the NGTL Mainline. Throughput information is provided for these areas as Upstream James River, North and East Flows, and Eastern Gate, respectively. The Upstream James River's primary receipt points are Northwestern Alberta and Northeastern B.C. Its primary delivery points are Intra-Alberta and the AB/BC border. Its average daily capacity is 8,000 million cubic feet per day. [1]

The North and East Flow primary receipt points are North and East Alberta. Its primary delivery point is Intra-Alberta. Its average daily capacity is 4,300 million cubic feet per day. [1]

The primary receipt point for Eastern Gate is Intra-Alberta, and the primary delivery points are McNeill and Empress. Its average daily capacity is 4,500 million cubic feet per day. [1]

Leaks

The NGTL system suffered a rupture on its pipeline system 138 km (85.6 miles) west of Fort McMurray, Alberta on October 17, 2013. TC Energy's gas control center detected a drop in pressure on a section of its north-central corridor natural gas pipeline between its Wooden House and Buffalo compressor stations. The size and cause of the leak was unknown at the time of publication.[33]

Expansion Projects

2017 NGTL System Expansion project

The 2017 NGTL Expansion added 230 kilometers of pipeline and two compressor stations. According to TC Energy, the project included five separate pipeline loops and two compression stations. The project cost an estimated $1.3 billion.[7]

The project faced significant resistance:

Saulteau First Nations v. Canada (A-G), Nova Gas Transmission, and the NEB/Blueberry River First Nations v. Nova Gas Transmission, and Canada (A-G)

Both the Blueberry River and Saulteau First Nations sought to bring the National Energy Board's approval of NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.'s pipeline expansion into north-eastern British Columbia under judicial review. Both of the First Nations claimed that they were warranted a judicial review request due to being inadequately consulted about the project while also stating that the National Energy Board lacked jurisdiction to approve of the pipeline project. However, the Federal Court refused their request and did not provide a reason for its decision.[34]

Bigstone Cree Nation v. Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. and Canada (A-G)

In 2015, the Bigstone Cree Nation, consisting of 7,752 members, filed an application to judicially review the National Energy Board's decision to approve Nova Gas Transmission Ltd.'s expansion of the NGTL pipeline system. The core of Bigstone's argument centered on the lack of proper consultation given to the First Nation regarding the project, thus violating their constitutionally protected and established treaty rights along with enshrined indigenous title and rights. Because Bigstone never had any direct consultation with Nova, there could be no possible mitigation of potential negative effects on the First Nation's intersts, nor could there be any serious accommodation of the indigenous group's needs. The band thus concluded that the National Energy Board should not approve of the project "because it cannot reasonably determine that the Project is not likely to cause significant adverse effects, or that any significant adverse effects can be justified in the circumstances."[35] Although a judicial review was granted, the National Energy Board has thus far kept up its approval of the NGTL pipeline system expansion and the project is currently under construction.[36]

In the hearings, Bigstone also indicated concerns regarding the potential contamination of traditional foods, medicine, and agricultural food crops resulting from pesticide and herbicide use and wanted to see the limitation or elimination of chemical applications. The First Nation also provided oral traditional evidence of the deleterious effects of extraction-based industry in its territory. Bigstone stated that it had witnessed the loss of whole herds of caribou, moose, deer, and other wildlife in the region and that it is becoming harder to gather the water and medicine in the area of development. Bigstone has focused on Caribou habitat and population restoration in recent years, which could be threatened by the NGTL project according to the group. Bigstone claimed that NGTL's mitigation measures were inadequate and did not address the First Nation's unique rights and interests. Bigstone also argued that the National Energy Board failed to comprehend the cumulative environmental effects of the project in its assessment.[37]

Alternative Resistance Strategy

In 2017, the Bigstone Cree Nation planned to install gates along with sentries at the edge of its territory to prevent the entry of Oil and Gas companies into their territory, along with other companies contracted to work with them. The reasoning for this plan was due to the failure and exhaustion of all other civil and legal means to "end the unjust enrichment of Multi-National Corporations." TC Energy was just one of the companies to be blocked from entering the First Nation's territory.[38] The First Nation gave the following reasons:

-The abandonment of the local economy and local companies -Disregarded Impact Benefits Agreements with Oil/Forest/Mineral Industries -Failed meaningful consultation between Oil/Gas and Mineral Industries and the ACO -Surface and Ground Water Protection - Wabasca Watershed including Aquifers -Delayed Transfer of Treaty Entitlement Lands to the Nation -Neglect of a referendum in the Transfer of Admin. And Control of Highways[38]

However, less than a month later, the Bigstone Cree Nation withdrew their plan to construct gates at the entry points to their territory. Instead of essentially creating a roadblock, Chief Auger of the Bigstone Cree Nation told reporters that they may construct tolls to generate revenue from the companies travelling through their territory. Despite the change of plans, companies like Exact were still pulling out of the area due to the unpredictable situation. Chief Auger was not worried about various companies pulling out, since the conditions were already so dire that he likened it to "living in a third-world situation." Auger also stated that "Nobody should have control of our land. It's our land."[39]

The Government responded through the Ministry of Indigenous Relations, declaring that they will "make every effort to prevent the establishment of toll gates." Auger said he was still standing firm on the idea of tolls and would further discuss the plan with the community. Auger also stated that "No government comes and tells us what to do — federally, provincially, municipally, or even for that matter, oil companies."[39]

In total, there are four expansion projects to the system, the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021 expansion project.

In October 2018, TC Energy announced that NGTL system would begin commercial operations in 2021 and 2022.[40]

In February 2020, federal regulators approved the expansion project.[41]

In December 2020, Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI) reported that Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) described the Canadian natural gas industry as facing a "high degree of uncertainty". According to developers, "System flow requirements in the 2024-2025 portion of the design horizon have a high degree of uncertainty due to the influence of major market factors that are still too early in their development to predict." NGI further stated that "Political and economic risks jeopardize up to C$3 billion ($2.3 billion) of additions that the pipeline network would build if the industry fulfilled its potential, management said in a new edition of NGTL’s annual five-year capital plan."[42]

2018 NGTL System Expansion project

The 2018 expansion would add 55 miles and 2.7 billion cubic feet per day capacity to the Alberta and British Columbia area. The expansion includes construction of pipeline, one new compressor, new and expanded meter stations, and other associated facilities.[10]

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

2019 NGTL System Expansion project

Proposed to be operational in 2019, this expansion would add 171 miles and 3 billion cubic feet per day of capacity to the Alberta and British Columbia area. The project includes construction of pipeline, compression enhancements at five compressor stations, new meter stations and other associated facilities.[10]

There have been no development updates since 2018 and the expansion project is presumed to be cancelled.

West Path Delivery Program expansion project

TC Energy proposed four projects as part of its West Path Delivery Program within Alberta and British Columbia. These projects are to supply natural gas produced in western Canada to growing demand in southwest Alberta, southern British Columbia, and downstream North American markets.[43][17][21] The four projects - Foothills Zone 8 2022, Foothills Zone 8 2023, NGTL 2022, and NGTL 2023 - are all operating as of 2023.[18]

North Corridor Expansion project

The North Corridor Expansion project is intended to expand pipeline capacity for natural gas from the Peace River Project Area to markets in northeastern Alberta, Canada.[23] It consists of four sections: NCC Loop (North Star Section 1), NCC Loop (North Star Section 2), NCC (Red Earth Section 3), and NWML Loop No.2 (Bear Canyon North Extension Section). The entire project was in-service as of 2023.[23]

2021 NGTL System Expansion project

The 2021 NGTL System Expansion added 214 miles to the system, stretching from Grande Prairie, Alberta to Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 to Yellowhead County, Alberta, to Clearwater County, Alberta, Canada.[29]

In May 2021, Macro Enterprises Inc. said that it had signed a contract to construct the Deep Valley South and the Colt sections of the expansion.[44] This development update indicated that expansion plans were ongoing, despite developers sighting uncertainty in their proposed pipeline projects.[42]

As of Q2 2024, all project components has been placed in-service.[28]

Articles and resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Nova Gas Transmission (NGTL) Pipeline, Canada NEB, accessed January 2018
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Pipeline Profiles: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL)". CER. Retrieved 2021-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. 3.0 3.1 "TC Energy — NGTL System". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Towerbirch Expansion Project Environmental Assessment Report". Government of Canada Environmental Assessment Office. Retrieved 2022-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Towerbirch Commitment Tracking Table No. 10" (PDF). November 30, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 NGTL EXPANSION (2017), TC Energy, accessed July 26, 2021
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project, Alberta, accessed July 20, 2021
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 "TransCanada Places Sundre Crossover Project in Service". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  9. "TC Energy — Sundre Crossover Pipeline". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  10. 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 Planned Projects, Pipeline News, accessed October 2018
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "2020 Facility Status Update (December)" (PDF). NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. TransCanada to Proceed With Saddle West Natural Gas Project, North American Oil and Gas Pipelines, accessed October 2018
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 French name of the content author / Nom en français de l'auteur du contenu. "Canada Energy Regulator - REGDOCS - A89944 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. - West Path Delivery Project Application". apps.cer-rec.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-09-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. Government of Canada, Canada Energy Regulator. "CER – Pipeline Profiles: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL)". www.rec-cer.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 "Proposed Project: North Central Corridor Loop (North Star Section 1)" (PDF). TC Energy. Retrieved 2022-01-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 Energy, T. C. "TC Energy — Saddle Lake Lateral Loop Project". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  17. 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 "West Path Delivery 2022 Projects". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  18. 18.0 18.1 TC Energy. "West Path Delivery Program". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 "TC Energy — Edson Mainline Expansion Project". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Edson Mainline Project background, CER, accessed Aug. 31, 2021.
  21. 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 21.11 21.12 21.13 21.14 "TC Energy - West Path Delivery 2023". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "CER – NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. – West Path Delivery 2023". www.cer-rec.gc.ca. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  23. 23.00 23.01 23.02 23.03 23.04 23.05 23.06 23.07 23.08 23.09 23.10 23.11 23.12 23.13 23.14 23.15 23.16 23.17 23.18 23.19 23.20 23.21 "TC Energy — North Corridor Expansion". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. "North Corridor Expansion Project Factsheet" (PDF). FSJ Chamber. Retrieved 2022-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 "Groundbirch Mainline Loop (GBML)". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  26. "Groundbirch Mainline Loop" (PDF). Canada Energy Regulator. 2020-05-11. Retrieved 2025-06-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 "April Facility Status Update" (PDF). tccustomerexpress.com. 2025-04-01. Retrieved 2025-06-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 "NGTL System Expansion Project (2021)". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  29. 29.0 29.1 Canada Energy Regulator (19 February 2020). "NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. – 2021 NGTL System Expansion Project". Canada Energy Regulator. Retrieved 27 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. Cockerham, Jason (2020-10-27). "TC Energy to Begin Construction on NGTL Expansion Project". Pipeline & Gas Journal. Retrieved 2025-05-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 "City goes to Plan B for gas supply". medicinehatnews.com. Retrieved 2023-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 "Medicine Hat Looping Project". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  33. Christopher E. Smith, TC Energy's NGTL suffers pipeline rupture, Oil & Gas Journal, October 28, 2013
  34. Blueberry River First Nations v. Attorney General of Canada, Case No. 36676; Saulteau First Nations v. Attorney General of Canada, Case No. 3667; Supreme Court of Canada, 14 September 2017, CanLii Connects, accessed November 26, 2017
  35. Hearing Order GH-002-2015, National Energy Board, accessed November 2017
  36. 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project, National Energy Board, January 19, 2017
  37. National Energy Board Report: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. GH-002-2015, National Energy Board, June 2016
  38. 38.0 38.1 Chief Gordon T. AugerLetter to Minister of Indigenous Relations, Office of the Chief, February 20, 2017
  39. 39.0 39.1 Kyle Muzyka, Northern Alberta First Nation walks back on plan to block oil and gas companies, CBC News, March 11, 2017
  40. TransCanada Announces $1.5 Billion NGTL System Expansion to Connect WCSB Supply to Incremental Market Demand, TransCanada, Oct. 31, 2018
  41. Shaun Penner, NOVA Gas Transmission expansion gets go-ahead from federal energy regulator, EverythingGP, February 21, 2020
  42. 42.0 42.1 Gordon Jaremko, Uncertainty Clouds Future of Canada’s NGTL System, Natural Gas Intelligence, December 24, 2020
  43. Energy, T. C. "West Path Delivery Program". www.tcenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  44. Macro signs NGTL expansion contract, Alaska Highway News, May 20, 2021

Related GEM.wiki articles

External resources

External articles