TransCanada Corp. will hold a binding open season to obtain firm commitments for a pipeline to transport crude oil from Western Canada to delivery points in the Montreal and Quebec City, Que., and Saint John, NB, areas. The Energy East Pipeline project involves converting roughly 3,000 km of TransCanada’s Canadian Mainline natural gas pipeline to crude oil service building up to 1,400 km of new pipeline.
Subject to open season results Energy East will move as much as 850,000 b/d, enhancing producer access to markets in Eastern Canada. In 2012, Canada imported more than 600,000 b/d to supply its Eastern refineries, according to TransCanada.
TransCanada expects the pipeline to enter service late 2017, pending sufficient shipper interest and regulatory approvals. The company has begun aboriginal and stakeholder engagement and field work as part of initial design and planning.
The open season will close on June 17.
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
