Westcoast Energy Limited Partnership, an Enbridge affiliate in Canada, has reportedly filed its “Birch Grove Program” with the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) to expand transportation capacity on the T-North pipeline in northeastern British Columbia.
The project involves increasing capacity on the T-North pipeline near Taylor, British Columbia, through pipeline looping, pressure restoration, and compressor station modifications. It reportedly involves modifying three compressor stations (01, 02, and 16), with two new cooling bays to be added at CS16. The expansion is reportedly also linked to future LNG export-related infrastructure.
The expansion will add up to 178 million standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) of transportation capacity, with approximately 20 miles (32 km) of new looping pipeline. The target startup date is the third quarter of 2028, with construction planned to begin in 2027, contingent on regulatory approval.
The project is reportedly aimed at expanding gas transportation infrastructure in western Canada’s British Columbia, with an eye toward future LNG export infrastructure connections.
As upstream pipeline infrastructure investment continues in preparation for expanding LNG exports in western North America, the related pipeline and compressor equipment order market is seen as growing accordingly.
Attention is on whether and when the CER grants regulatory approval, and how this expansion will connect with actual LNG export projects.