Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, which aims to increase the capacity of the existing pipeline system from Alberta to British Columbia, has encountered another setback in its construction. The company announced on January 29, 2024, that it had experienced technical issues during the pipeline pullback activity for the Mountain 3 Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD), which will result in additional time to determine the safest and most prudent actions for minimizing further delay.
The Mountain 3 HDD is one of the most challenging segments of the project, as it involves drilling under the Fraser River near Chilliwack, BC. The company had previously stated that it expected to complete the HDD by the end of January 2024, but the latest update indicates that the timeline has been pushed back indefinitely.
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project has faced numerous legal, regulatory, and environmental hurdles since it was first proposed in 2012. The project was approved by the federal government in 2016, but was halted by the Federal Court of Appeal in 2018 due to insufficient consultation with Indigenous peoples and inadequate consideration of marine impacts. The project was re-approved by the federal government in 2019, after addressing the court’s concerns.
The pipeline project is expected to cost $12.6 billion and create thousands of jobs during construction and operation. The company claims that the project will benefit Canada’s economy by increasing access to global markets for Canadian oil, generating tax revenues for federal and provincial governments, and supporting energy security and diversity. The project also promises to implement various safety and environmental measures, such as enhanced pipeline monitoring, spill response, and marine protection.
The expansion project has faced strong opposition from some Indigenous groups, environmental organizations, and local communities, who argue that the project poses unacceptable risks to the land, water, climate, and wildlife. They also contend that the project violates Indigenous rights and title, and that it is incompatible with Canada’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a clean energy future.
The company says that it is fully focused on the completion of the pipeline and that it works towards the anticipated in-service date in the second quarter of 2024. However, given the ongoing challenges and uncertainties, it remains to be seen whether the project will be able to meet its deadline and deliver on its promises.
Trans Mountain is a Canadian company that operates a pipeline system that transports crude oil and refined products from Alberta and British Columbia to the West Coast. The company has been in operation for 70 years and delivers about 300,000 barrels of petroleum products per day. The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project will increase its ability to serve global energy markets. Trans Mountain is a federal Crown corporation that is accountable to Parliament through the Canada Development Investment Corporation.
Trans Mountain employs over 1,600 people across 17 locations. The company is currently expanding its pipeline system, offering job opportunities in various fields such as operations, construction, marine, engineering, finance, and communications. Find current openings on the company’s website. https://www.transmountain.com/careers