Trans Mountain proceeding with first of three expansions of oil pipeline

Trans Mountain is moving ahead with its first project to pump more oil through its pipeline system between Alberta and British Columbia.

The Crown corporation applied to the Canada Energy Regulator this week to use drag reducing agents (DRA) with the goal of moving up to 10 per cent more oil.

The project would cost $9 million, and construction is expected to begin this August, according to documents submitted to the regulator. The project could be operational by January 2027.

The original Trans Mountain pipeline system was built in the 1950s, while the $34-billion expansion project began transporting oil from Edmonton to the Vancouver area in May 2024. 

The Crown corporation had planned to only begin looking at possible increases to the pipeline later this decade, but the timeline was sped up as oil production in Alberta continues to climb and existing export pipelines are expected to reach capacity in the coming years.

“The DRA Project will not result in incremental vessel traffic at the Westridge Marine Terminal beyond what was assessed during the reconsideration process for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project,” stated Trans Mountain in the documents.

Trans Mountain is considering a few other projects to transport more oil through its pipeline, such as constructing more pumping stations, which could move an additional 360,000 barrels per day, within the next five years. The twin pipeline can currently transport approximately 890,000 barrels per day between Alberta and the west coast of British Columbia.

Drag reducing agents are chemicals that reduce friction within the pipeline and would have a relatively low price tag compared to other proposed improvements to the pipeline system. 

A handful of proposed expansions to major pipelines, including Trans Mountain, could noticeably increase the amount of oil that can be exported out of Western Canada.