PROJECT PROFILE
Trans Mountain pipeline
Project facts and figures
T
he twinning of the 1,150 km pipeline Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP) from Edmonton to Burnaby at a projected cost of $7.4 billion involves 980 km of new pipeline and reactivating 193 km of existing pipeline. Originally completed in 1953, it was designed to move crude oil and refined products. The TMEP once completed will allow for a 300% increase in capacity over the current 300,000 barrel per day (bpd) to move refined, semi-refined, and crude oil products in a process known as ‘Batch Train’. Moving approximately 900,000 bpd at a flow rate of 8 km per hour will require an elaborate network infrastructure comprising 23 electric-powered pumping stations located at varying intervals. Four terminals located in Edmonton, Kamloops, Abbotsford, and Burnaby will have storage tanks for incoming feeder pipeline and tanker loading facilities. At each pump station, equipment monitors, leak alarm detection devices, and containment system features are incorporated for 24/7 monitoring from the Control Centre in Edmonton, using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software. In addition to the automated features, local operators and maintenance personnel will inspect the facilities regularly and perform various types of preventative maintenance to ensure the pipeline integrity. The TMEP consists of 827 km of 24" pipe, 150 km of 36" pipe and 170km of 30" pipe. The TMEP is subject to meeting 156 conditions by the National Energy Board under the project’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. The constructability challenges and installation logistics through nine separate communities is impressive. The communities impacted along the route are identified as Greater Edmonton, Yellowhead, Jasper Mount Robson Reactivation, Northern Thompson, West Barriere Reactivation, CoquihallaHope, Fraser Valley, and the Lower Mainland. The construction installation techniques will vary with most of the route using a conventional open trench ‘baselay’ approach. Trenchless boring or horizontal directional drilling (HDD) will be deployed at roads, railways and select watercourse crossings and, at some water crossings, dam and pump techniques may be necessary. CLICK HERE to return to Table of Contents
A strong commitment to the engagement of the First Nations People – under the Indigenous Engagement Program previously undertaken by Kinder Morgan and now the TMEP consortium – has resulted in 33 BC and 10 AB Indigenous groups signing agreements or providing Letters of Support endorsing the project. In Alberta, the existing pipeline and corridor crosses Treaty 6 territory, Treaty 8 Territory and the Metis Nation of Alberta (Zone 4). In British Columbia 15 First Nation Reserve Lands are impacted by the TMEP. The project group/stakeholder communications have involved conducting over 215 open houses or workshops and 1,800 meetings to solicit feedback and address concerns. Extensive work has gone into identifying potential environmental impacts to wetlands, parks, and 22 river crossings, and implementing various mitigation measures such as increasing the number of Fall 2019 | www.ciqs.org | CONSTRUCTION ECONOMIST | 17
