A new deepwater gas pipeline is slated to traverse waters of the Pacific Northwest US and Canada.
The Georgia Strait Crossing, as envisioned by partners BC Hydro, Vancouver, BC, and Williams Gas Pipeline, would begin as a 40 mile, 16-32-in. line to move gas from Sumas, Wash., to Cherry Point, Wash., in an established utility corridor.
From Cherry Point, the line would travel 44 miles offshore across the Strait of Georgia, through Boundary Pass and the Satellite Channel in water depths of up to 1,200 ft. About 23 miles of pipe would be in Canadian waters, and 21 miles in US waters.
The line would come ashore on Vancouver Island north of Mill Bay and travel inland about 8 miles to connect with the Centra Gas Transmission System near Shaw Lake.
Additional compression capacity would be installed at the existing Sumas compressor station, as would another compressor facility on either the US mainland or Vancouver Island, the final location to be determined later.
If approved, the $120 million project would begin construction during summer and fall 2002, with completion set for November 2002. Williams would be operator. Capacity is currently projected to be 85 MMcfd.
