A new $1.5 billion pipeline project will cross the southern portion of Westlock County and the company behind it is reaching out to the public to hear any concerns they may have.
Keyera Energy, in partnership with SemCAMS Midstream, is in the midst of regulatory applications and public engagement on the 575-kilometre natural gas pipeline that will run from the Grande Prairie area to Fort Saskatchewan and make its way through Westlock County.
The company has been dropping information packages at the doorsteps of Pickardville residents and surrounding area as it prepares to apply to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) in the hopes of starting construction by fall of 2020 and starting up the project in spring of 2022.
The KAPS Pipeline Project will consist of two parallel pipelines, one 12-inch and one 16-inch, with one carrying natural gas liquids to Keyera’s Fort Saskatchewan fractionation and storage facility, and the other transporting condensate that will tie into the company’s existing condensate system.
The 16-inch pipe will be designed to carry a mix of natural gas liquids comprised of ethane, propane and butane.
Keyera’s senior vice president and chief operating officer Brad Lock said the estimated $1-$1.5 billion project will result in 800 construction jobs during the course of the construction and 10 full time jobs when the pipeline is complete and will contribute significant economic value and property tax revenue to landowners along the route.
“We’re an infrastructure company so our business is really connecting producers energy sources, whether it be gas or oil or NGLs to market, so we build infrastructure to help get the energy from the ground to places where it needs to be, so we don’t actually own production,” said Lock.
Once in Fort Saskatchewan, the NGLs will fractionated into salable products like propane and butane. That’s what is coming down one of those pipes. The parallel pipe is carrying condensate from the Grande Prairie region and will find its way to Fort McMurray where it will act as diluent for oil sands production.
As for the path of the pipeline, Lock said there are three things the company takes into consideration when deciding what path the pipeline will take. The start of the pipeline depends on the number of feeder points that are available.
There will be 10-15 plants that deliver product into the pipeline, he said.
“The second thing you look at is what’s called existing linear disturbances. Where are there existing pipelines that we can follow the same path and not have to cut down a whole bunch of new trees. We follow that as best as we can,” said Lock. “The third thing we try to do is work with the landowners and indigenous communities to make sure we don’t go through areas they don’t want us to.”
Keyera has been involved in stakeholder consultations with landowners for the last year and Lock estimates they have completed 80-90 per cent of the acquisition and environmental field work to keep the project on schedule.
“We’re pretty much there in terms of routing and now that we’ve consulted with all the landowners where we’re crossing, now we have to consult with the people who are within a certain radius of the pipeline. Part of it is under regulations and part of it is us wanting to be a good neighbour, we want to make sure that everyone within a radius understands what we’re building and has an opportunity to collect feedback, ask questions, express concerns, so they are also informed about what is happening close to their lands,” said Lock.
Safety is of key concern for the company said Lock, and once constructed the pipeline will be monitored using a SCADA technology to monitor operating conditions as well as in-line technology to detect corrosion and cracks.
While there will be some additional traffic and noise during the initial construction, nearby residents will not be further bothered by noise or odours or any flaring or venting,” said Lock.
“Flaring is a valid consideration. The beauty of a pipeline is, the only time there would be any flaring is if we had to do maintenance of a specific part of the line ... Under normal operations there is no permanent flares anywhere along the pipeline, they only exist at either end, at a pump station we have at the midpoint around Fox Creek,” said Lock.
A project specific emergency response plan will also be approved before the project is complete.
Westlock County Division 2 Coun. Jared Stitsen wasn’t aware of the new pipeline project last week, but said he is happy to see it coming.
“I share the view that everyone in Alberta shares. Any pipeline that gets in the ground is a good thing for the Weslock area and the province.”
Lock encourages anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to Keyera at 1-833-213-9528 or at [email protected].
