Updated May 2022
Oil Pipelines
Alberta is serviced by major export lines (see Figure S8.2). These pipelines provide the bulk of export capacity leaving the province.
Alberta has many interprovincial pipelines listed in Table S8.1.
Market Access
In 2021, total design capacity to move oil from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin to outside markets was 794.2 thousand cubic metres per day (103 m3/d) (4998.2 103 bbl/d). Table S8.2 lists the existing pipelines that transport oil from Alberta and their destinations and design capacities.
In 2021, there was an estimated 668.5 103 m3/d (4207 103 bbl/d) of pipeline export capacity for oil from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (Figure S8.3). This amount does not reflect design capacity but available capacity, which is higher due to enhancement and optimization work that took place during the last two years.
North American Pipeline Projects
Table S8.3 lists selected proposed pipeline projects in North America and their anticipated start-up dates and capacities.
Natural Gas Pipelines
Figure S8.4 shows the major gas pipeline systems in Canada and major export points for Alberta’s natural gas.
Tables S8.4 lists Alberta’s interprovincial pipelines and Table 8.5 lists the removal and import pipelines.
Natural Gas Liquid Pipelines
Alberta has many pipelines that transport natural gas liquids, including ethane, butanes, and condensates. Demand for condensate has been greater than Alberta’s supply since 2004 because condensate is a common diluent for oil sands bitumen. Alberta now relies on imports of condensate to meet demand. Imports of condensate are from the United States, primarily through the Southern Lights pipeline (from Manhattan, Illinois, to Edmonton, Alberta) and Cochin pipeline (from Kankakee, Illinois, to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta). Alberta’s diluent demand is expected to increase with growing oil sands production.
Ethane Gathering and Delivery Systems
Figure S8.5 shows the ethane gathering and delivery systems in Alberta.
NGL Pipeline Capacity
Tables S8.6 lists Alberta’s interprovincial NGL pipelines, Table S8.7 lists the interprovincial NGL pipelines, and Table S8.8 lists the proposed NGL pipeline projects.
Learn More
- Data [XLSX]
- By Topic > Pipelines
- Pipeline Performance
- YouTube series: Regulating Alberta’s Pipelines