The expansion of the NGTL System will help in increasing the overall natural gas transportation capacity on the northwest section of the system by about 355 million cubic feet per day.
Expected to be commissioned in 2019, the project is supported by incremental firm service contracts.
TransCanada executive vice-president and president of natural gas pipelines Karl Johannson said: “This project will increase capacity in a critical area of the NGTL System that connects and transports growing supplies of unconventional natural gas.
"NGTL's unparalleled footprint enables us to efficiently meet the increased transportation needs of our customers in the Montney, Duvernay and Deep Basin areas and to reliably connect new production to high-value intra and ex-basin markets."
The Saddle West Expansion Project will feature a 29km long and 36-inch wide pipeline looping of current mainlines in the NGTL System besides five compressor units located in existing station sites as well as new metering provisions.
NGTL expects to break ground on the project in 2018. It would file an application in the third quarter of next year to seek an approval for the project construction and operation from the National Energy Board.
Johannson added that the NGTL System is a significant component of TransCanada’s energy infrastructure assets portfolio which in various market conditions can perform solidly.
He also said: "Our strategy is to maintain and optimize NGTL's competitive position and to focus on growing our established network to transport growing volumes of WCSB gas."
In October, TransCanada secured the Canadian government’s approval for the $1.3bn 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project aimed at delivering additional capacity to cater to the requirements of natural gas shippers.
Image: TransCanada will proceed with the Saddle West natural gas project. Photo: courtesy of supakitmod/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
