Canada’s National Energy Board is planning for a public hearing this spring regarding the Wyndwood Pipeline expansion project in northeastern British Columbia. The meeting’s date and location have not been set.
Westcoast Energy Inc. filed a project application last October that envisions a 28-km natural gas line southwest of Chetwynd.
The project would enable Westcoast to provide incremental firm transportation service from receipt points along the Fort St. John Mainline to accommodate increasing gas production from the Montney formation.
Westcoast received bids in 2015 and entered into expansion service agreements with shippers for 50 MMcfd of incremental firm service. The agreements average 12 years.
Estimated cost of the expansion project is $170.3 million (Can.). Westcoast’s proposed construction start date is May 1, and the planned in-service date is first-quarter 2018. Westcoast is doing business as Spectra Energy Transmission.
The pipeline loop would be primarily routed contiguous to the existing pipeline. It would extend near Stone Creek to Westcoast’s existing Compressor Station No. 2 at Willow Flats. No incremental land or work space would be required for modifications for the compressor station.
The proposed line would have an outside diameter of 914 mm compared with the existing line’s 762 mm.
In January, NEB received 16 applications to participate in the hearing. It has granted “intervenor status” to 14 applications. NEB will consider evidence from local landowners, indigenous groups, companies, and federal departments as it decides whether to approve the project.
NEB is providing as much as $250,000 to support “meaningful participation” in the hearing process by intervenors.
After Westcoast replies to intervenor evidence at the hearing, NEB will close the record and make a decision within 12 weeks.