TransCanada proceeds with Cushing-to-Gulf Coast oil line

Christopher E. Smith
OGJ Pipeline Editor

HOUSTON, Jan. 27 -- TransCanada Corp. will proceed with its Cushing Marketlink crude pipeline project, having received sufficient market support in the project’s open season. Cushing Marketlink will have capacity to move 150,000 b/d from Cushing, Okla. to the US Gulf Coast.

TransCanada expects the project to be in service first-quarter 2013, subject to regulatory approval.

TransCanada concluded its open season for the Bakken Marketlink Project to deliver US-sourced crude from Baker, Mont., to Cushing, Okla., earlier this month (OGJ Online, Jan. 21, 2011). Both Bakken Marketlink and Cushing Marketlink will use pipeline facilities forming part of TransCanada’s Keystone XL system. Combined the two projects will transport up to 250,000 b/d of US crude oil production to the Gulf Coast.

Keystone XL includes 1,980 miles of 36-in. OD line starting in Hardisty, Alta. and extending to a delivery point near existing terminals in Port Arthur, Tex. XL will also include 41 pump stations—33 in the US and 8 in Canada—at roughly 50-mile intervals. Each station will use two-to-three 6,500 hp electric pumps, providing a total of up to 19,500 hp/station. Each station could be expanded to 32,500 hp as part of boosting the Keystone system’s throughput to 1.5 million b/d.

Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].