Westcoast Aspen Point Program

Project Background

Westcoast Energy Inc. (Westcoast) filed an application with the Canada Energy Regulator for the Aspen Point Program Project (Project). The Project will increase the T-North system through the installation of more pipeline segments, electric drive compression, powerlines, metering facilities, and upgrades and/or modifications to existing compressor stations.

The Project will consist of three new pipeline segments with a total length of up to about 18 kilometres (km) in northeast British Columbia (BC).

The proposed three new pipeline segments are:

• Aitken Creek Pipeline Loop: a new nominal pipe size (NPS) 24 pipeline segment about 8.9 km in length that will loop the existing Aitken Creek Pipeline, within provincial Crown land, about 110 km northwest of Fort St. John, BC;
• Fort St. John Mainline Loop: a new NPS 36 pipeline segment about 6.4 km or 7.7 km in length (depending on the final routing of the Pine River crossing) that will loop the existing NPS 30 Fort St. John Mainline, within provincial Crown land, about 60 km northwest of Dawson Creek, BC; and
• CS-1B Connector: a new NPS 30 pipeline segment about 1.4 km in length that will connect the existing Fort St. John Mainline and Alberta Mainline with a tie-in to the planned new CS-1B at the junction with the Fort St. John Mainline, within freehold land and government road allowance, about 5 km south of Taylor, BC.

The Project will include the addition of new electric drive compressor units and related infrastructure at the existing Mackie Creek (CS-N5) and Sunset Creek (CS-16) compressor stations, and a new station (CS-1B) located about 5 km south of Taylor, BC. The Project will also include the installation of three new overhead powerlines to provide power to the new electric drive compressor units. The lengths of these powerlines will largely follow existing linear infrastructure such as pipeline rights-of-way, powerline rights-of-way, and roadways. Electrical substations will also be installed within the boundaries of the three identified compressor stations to reduce the voltage from the incoming powerlines.

To help with the reliable and efficient flow of natural gas on the expanded T-North system, the Project will have various facility upgrades and ancillary works at the following compressor stations: CS-N4, CS-N5, CS-2, and CS-16 including cooling facility additions, impeller replacements, piping and control modifications, and tie-ins. The Project will also include installation of additional metering facilities to the existing MS-204 receipt meter station at CS-1, as well as CS-16 to help with the deliveries of natural gas to a new delivery interconnection at that location.

If the Project is approved by the Commission, Westcoast plans to start construction 15 January 2025, aiming for a project-in-service date of 1 November 2026. The estimated cost of the Project is $1.2 billion Canadian dollars.

Timeline and Documents

Project Map

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