BC Gas Pipeline
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BC Gas Pipeline is an operating natural gas pipeline in Canada.[1]
Contents
- 1 Location
- 2 Project Details
- 3 Background
- 4 Proposed Wynwood Expansion Location
- 5 Proposed Wynwood Expansion Details
- 6 Proposed Wynwood Pipeline Expansion Background
- 7 Jackfish Lake Expansion Location
- 8 Jackfish Lake Expansion Details
- 9 Jackfish Lake Expansion Background
- 10 Aitken Creek Loop Expansion Location
- 11 Aitken Creek Loop Expansion Details
- 12 Aitken Creek Loop Expansion Background
- 13 Chetwynd Loop Expansion Location
- 14 Chetwynd Loop Expansion Details
- 15 Chetwynd Loop Expansion Background
- 16 Articles and resources
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.
Project Details
- Owner: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.
- Capacity: 3037.5 million cubic feet per day
- Length: 1,773 miles / 2,854 km
- 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.
Proposed Wynwood Expansion Location
The pipeline runs for 17 miles near Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada.
Proposed Wynwood Expansion Details
- Operator: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.
- Proposed capacity: 50 million cubic feet per day
- Proposed length: 17 miles / 27.4
- Status: Shelved
- Start Year:
Proposed Wynwood Pipeline Expansion Background
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.[2]
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.[3]
There have been no development updates since 2017 and the project is presumed to be shelved.
Jackfish Lake Expansion Location
The pipeline will run from Taylor to Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada.
Jackfish Lake Expansion Details
- Operator: Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Westcoast Energy Inc.
- Proposed capacity: 137.5 million cubic feet per day
- Proposed length: 22.4 miles / 36 kilometers
- Status: Operating
- Start Year:
Jackfish Lake Expansion Background
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.[4] The Jackfish Lake Expansion project was completed in 2017.[5]
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.[6]
Aitken Creek Loop Expansion Details
- Owner: Enbridge
- Proposed capacity: 60 million cubic feet per day
- Proposed length: 8.1 miles / 13 kilometers
- Status: Proposed
- Start Year: 2020
Aitken Creek Loop Expansion Background
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).[6]
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.[6]
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). [6]
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.[6]
Chetwynd Loop Expansion Details
- Owner: Enbridge
- Proposed capacity: 360 million cubic feet per day
- Proposed length: 15.5 miles / 25 kilometers
- Status: Proposed
- Start Year: 2020
Chetwynd Loop Expansion Background
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).[6]
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.[6]
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).[6]
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ Natural gas pipelines and processing, Enbridge website, accessed 13 December 2017
- ↑ Planned Projects, Pipeline News, accessed October 2018
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Spruce Ridge Program Enbridge, accessed October 18, 2019
