Trans Mountain is embarking on the first phase of its ambitious plan to enhance oil transportation through its pipeline network that connects Alberta and British Columbia. This initiative is part of a broader strategy involving several upgrades aimed at major export pipelines across the region.
This week, the Crown corporation submitted a proposal to the Canada Energy Regulator to implement drag reducing agents (DRA) in their pipeline system, which is expected to increase oil flow by up to 10%. The projected cost for this upgrade is about $9 million, with construction slated to commence in August of this year. If all goes according to plan, the enhanced system could be operational as early as January 2027.
The original Trans Mountain pipeline was constructed back in the 1950s, and a significant expansion project—totaling $34 billion—successfully began transporting oil from Edmonton to the Vancouver area in May 2024. Initially, Trans Mountain had intended to explore potential increases to the pipeline capacity later in the decade. However, due to rising oil production in Alberta and anticipated limitations in existing export pipelines in the near future, this timeline has been expedited.
In official documents, Trans Mountain clarified that the DRA Project will not lead to an increase in vessel traffic at the Westridge Marine Terminal beyond what was evaluated during the re-assessment of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
Moreover, Trans Mountain is exploring additional projects that could significantly boost oil transport capacity through its pipelines by adding more pumping stations. This could potentially allow for an extra 360,000 barrels per day within the next five years. Currently, the twin pipeline has the capability to transport approximately 890,000 barrels per day from Alberta to the western coast of British Columbia.
Drag reducing agents are specialized chemicals designed to minimize friction within the pipeline, making this upgrade a relatively economical option compared to other proposed enhancements. The collective impact of various proposed expansions, including those from Trans Mountain, has the potential to substantially increase the volume of oil exported from Western Canada.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kyle Bakx is a journalist based in Calgary, working with the business unit at CBC News. He covers stories both nationally and internationally across web, radio, television, and social media. If you have story ideas, you can reach him at kyle.bakx@cbc.ca.
