Trans Mountain Corp. expects to begin commercial operation of its 590,000-b/d crude oil pipeline expansion on May 1, 2024, and anticipates providing service for all contracted volumes in May.
The company completed the pipe pullback for the Mountain 3 Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) in the Fraser Valley between Hope and Chilliwack, BC, on Mar. 29, 2024.
Several steps remain to complete the expansion project, including obtaining outstanding approvals from the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), the company said in the Apr. 3 update.
With the appropriate approvals and completion of remaining construction activity, Trans Mountain will commence transporting crude oil on the expanded system, which when complete, will increase the pipeline’s capacity to 890,000 b/d.
After it begins transporting crude oil on the system, Trans Mountain will continue cleanup, reclamation, road, and civil work, it said.
