Trans Mountain has initiated its initial plan to enhance oil flow through its pipeline network connecting Alberta and British Columbia. The government-owned company has submitted an application to the Canada Energy Regulator to utilize drag reducing agents (DRA) in order to increase oil capacity by up to 10%. The project is estimated to cost $9 million, with construction set to commence in August and potential operational readiness by January 2027.
The original Trans Mountain pipeline was constructed in the 1950s, while the expansion project, valued at $34 billion, began oil transportation from Edmonton to Vancouver in May 2024. Originally scheduled for later in the decade, the decision to explore pipeline capacity enhancements was expedited due to rising oil production in Alberta and the anticipated saturation of existing export pipelines in the near future.
The DRA Project, as outlined in the documents submitted by Trans Mountain, ensures that additional vessel traffic at the Westridge Marine Terminal will not surpass the previously assessed levels during the Trans Mountain Expansion Project evaluation. Concurrently, Trans Mountain is evaluating other strategies to boost oil transport, such as installing more pumping stations, with the potential to increase daily oil movement by an extra 360,000 barrels within five years. Presently, the twin pipeline has a capacity of about 890,000 barrels per day between Alberta and the British Columbia coast.
Drag reducing agents are cost-effective chemicals aimed at reducing pipeline friction, presenting a budget-friendly solution compared to other proposed enhancements. Several planned expansions to major pipelines, including Trans Mountain, have the potential to significantly amplify oil export capacity from Western Canada.
