NOVA Gas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada Corporation, has announced that has signed agreements with Chevron Canada and Apache Canada for a controlled partnership (APA) for approximately 1.9 Billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of firm natural gas transportation.
The proposed Merrick Mainline Pipeline Project is intended to be a significant new link I British Columbia’s emerging liquified natural gas (LNG) export market. The pipeline will transport natural gas sourced through the NGTL System to the inlet of CVX/APA’s proposed Pacific Trail Pipeline (PTP) that will terminate at the Kitimat LNG Terminal at Bish Cove near Kitimat, B.C. The proposed project will be an extension from the existing Groundbirch Mainline section of the NGTL System beginning near Dawson Creek, B.C to its end point near the community of Summit Lake, BC. It is estimated that the CAD $1.9 billion project will have 260 kilometers of 48-inch diameter pipe.
TransCanada is moving ahead with the project, including field studies, engineering and design work and pipeline routing to support applications for regulatory approvals and finalize project requirements.
A source confirms that the initial work for the project is going well and plans are in place to apply with the National Energy Board in the fourth quarter of 2014 for approvals to build and operate the project. Pending on the necessary approvals, the Merrick Mainline is expected to be in service during the first quarter of 2020.