Resource World Magazine

F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 0 www.resourceworld.com 85 OIL & GAS After the completion of Phase I (2010), Phase II (2011) and Phase III (2014), the fourth leg, known as Keystone XL, attracted opposition from environmen- talists and became a symbol of the battle over climate change and fossil fuels, with considerable attention given to a series of pipeline leaks. In 2015 it was delayed by then President Barack Obama but in early 2017 President Donald Trump took action intended to complete the pipeline's construction. "Keystone XL has undergone years of extensive environmental review by federal and state regulators. Every single evalua- tion has shown that Keystone XL can be built safely and with minimal impact to the environment. We have no reason to believe this review will be any different," says a report on their website. According to the website, Keystone XL is the most-studied cross-border pipeline in the history of North America. It has been studied three separate times by the US Department of State and has been stud- ied by the environmental departments of all three states along the route. "Every fed- eral and state study has concluded that this project provides the safest and most eco- nomical means to transport crude oil, with no significant impact on the environment." While the first three phases of the pipe- line to date have delivered almost 2 billion barrels of crude oil to market, construction has yet to begin on the Keystone XL seg- ment, which when completed will deliver 830,000 bpd through a 36-inch pipe along 1,184 miles from Hardisty, AB to Steele City, Nebraska, said TC Energy spokes- man Terry Cunha. While TC Energy is still awaiting federal permits for the work, it's expected construction will start sometime this year and that XL will take two years to complete. "The project has faced some opposi- tion but our focus is and continues to be on working with our stakeholders to move this important project forward," he said. TRANS MOUNTAIN EXPANSION In a field rife with controversy, the fed- erally-owned $10 billion TMX pipeline project stands out as both a source of frustration and a symbol of success for its proponents. The original Trans Mountain pipeline was constructed in 1953, running 1,150 km from Strathcona County, Alberta to Burnaby, BC, and remains operational. The expansion, first proposed in 2012, will twin the entire length of the pipeline, increasing its capacity to 890,000 bpd from 300,000 bpd. The project has been plagued by opposition and after years of delays had to be approved on two separate occasions by the federal government, which wound up buying it in 2018 for $4.5 billion. Even after the long-awaited construction start in August, four Indigenous groups in December sought to have the work halted, saying they were not properly consulted. "There's no doubt it has been a long road…With many ups and downs and a fair share of debate," said Lizette Parsons Bell, Trans Mountain's director, stake- holder engagement and communications. "But it's also been a time for great progress, compromise, reflection and ingenuity. "By almost every measure, our project is stron- ger, safer and more inclusive than it was when we started." While the expansion isn't expected to be in service until mid-late 2022, it came in response to requests from oil ship- pers "who wanted to reach new markets by expanding the capacity of North America's only pipeline with access to the West Coast," Parsons Bell said. To date, 13 shippers have made 15- and 20-year com- mitments totalling 707,500 bpd, roughly 80% of the pipeline's capacity, with the other 20% reserved for spot volumes as required by the Canada Energy Regulator. The company is determined to allay any concerns. "Whether we have seen eye-to-eye or not, the conversations we've had have helped us build a better project and it's why we are confident that it will meet every standard, every regulation and reflect the values and priorities of Canadians," she said. "That said, there is more work to do and we will continue to carry out that work with the same level of dedication, attention and thoughtfulness that has been at the heart of every discussion we've had since we first proposed this expansion in 2013." n Enbridge pipeline maintenance crew at the final tie-in point of the Line 3 replacement pipeline in Canada near Gretna, Manitoba. The large flange in the centre of the photos is the connecting point between the new Canadian pipeline and US Line 3, which runs to Superior, Wisconsin. Source: Enbridge Inc.

• Cover