Trans Mountain is set to advance its initial initiative to enhance oil flow through its pipeline connecting Alberta and British Columbia. The government-owned company has sought approval from the Canada Energy Regulator to utilize drag reducing agents (DRA) with the aim of increasing oil transportation capacity by up to 10 percent. The project is estimated to cost $9 million, with construction slated 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 joined by the $34 billion expansion endeavor in May 2024 to transport oil from Edmonton to Vancouver.
Although the Crown corporation had originally intended to explore pipeline enhancements later in the decade, the timeline has been expedited due to escalating oil production in Alberta and projections of existing export pipelines reaching full capacity in future years. Trans Mountain has clarified that the DRA Project will not result in additional vessel traffic at the Westridge Marine Terminal beyond previous assessments for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
In addition to the DRA initiative, Trans Mountain is contemplating various other strategies to augment oil transportation, including the potential construction of additional pumping stations capable of moving an extra 360,000 barrels per day within the next five years. Presently, the twin pipeline has a capacity of around 890,000 barrels per day between Alberta and the British Columbia coast. Drag reducing agents, chemicals aimed at decreasing friction within pipelines, are viewed as a cost-effective option compared to other proposed enhancements. Several proposed expansions to major pipelines, such as Trans Mountain, could significantly elevate Western Canada’s oil export capacity.