Trans Mountain is set to enhance oil flow in its pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia with a new project. The Crown corporation has requested permission from the Canada Energy Regulator to utilize drag reducing agents (DRA) to boost oil transportation by up to 10%. This initiative is estimated to cost $9 million, with construction scheduled to commence in August and potential operational readiness by January 2027, as per regulatory filings.
The original Trans Mountain pipeline, established in the 1950s, was supplemented by the $34 billion expansion project, which began oil deliveries from Edmonton to Vancouver in May 2024. Anticipating rising oil production in Alberta and nearing capacity on existing export pipelines, the corporation accelerated its timeline for enhancements.
The DRA Project is expected to have minimal impact on vessel traffic at the Westridge Marine Terminal, as previously assessed during the Trans Mountain Expansion Project reconsideration. Additional projects under consideration by Trans Mountain include building more pumping stations to facilitate an extra 360,000 barrels per day transport capacity within the next five years. Currently, the twin pipeline can handle about 890,000 barrels daily between Alberta and the British Columbia coast.
Utilizing drag reducing agents is a cost-effective method to decrease friction in the pipeline compared to other proposed upgrades. Several proposed expansions, including those on major pipelines like Trans Mountain, are poised to significantly increase oil export capabilities from Western Canada.
