Trans Mountain is progressing with its initial initiative to enhance oil flow within 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 transportation capacity by up to 10 percent.
The proposed project is estimated to cost $9 million, with construction slated to commence in August, as per documents presented to the regulator. It is anticipated that the project could be operational by January 2027. The original Trans Mountain pipeline system dates back to the 1950s, while the expansion project, which cost $34 billion, began transporting oil from Edmonton to the Vancouver region in May 2024.
Originally, the Crown corporation had intended to explore potential pipeline expansions later in the decade. However, the timeline was accelerated due to rising oil production in Alberta and projections indicating that existing export pipelines will reach full capacity in the upcoming years.
According to Trans Mountain’s submission, the DRA Project will not lead to an increase in vessel traffic at the Westridge Marine Terminal beyond what was already evaluated during the reconsideration process for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. Additionally, the company is contemplating several other projects to boost oil transportation via its pipeline, such as the construction of additional pumping stations capable of moving an extra 360,000 barrels per day within the next five years. Currently, the twin pipeline has the capacity to transport around 890,000 barrels per day between Alberta and the west coast of British Columbia.
Drag reducing agents are chemical additives that minimize friction within the pipeline and are deemed to be cost-effective compared to other proposed enhancements to the pipeline system. Several proposed expansions to major pipelines, including Trans Mountain, have the potential to significantly augment the volume of oil that can be exported from Western Canada.
