Fueling the future: Natural gas pipeline expansion on the horizon

Enbridge recently hosted the first open house in Taylor, BC, for the proposed Birch Grove Program which aims to add up to 178 million cubic feet per day of natural gas transportation capacity.

Photo by Rawnna Low, Senior Communications Advisor

An affiliate of Enbridge, Westcoast Energy Limited Partnership (Westcoast) has proposed an expansion of the northern section of their natural gas pipeline system Transmission North (or T-North) called the Birch Grove Program.

This program aims to increase the natural gas transportation capacity to the T-North system by up to 178 million cubic feet per day, which is needed to support potential LNG exports and a growing demand according to the Enbridge website.

“The project is at the early stages of development and Westcoast is gathering information from local and Indigenous communities, and conducting field studies to help inform the project application targeted for submission to the Canada Energy Regulator by Q2 2026,” said Rawnna Low, Senior Communications Advisor. “If approved, construction is expected to start in Q2 2027, with a target in-service by Q3 2028.”

The Birch Grove Program includes piping upgrades, replacement and installation of pipeline segments, and modifications to current compressor stations according to their website.

To boost transportation capacity, a new 36-inch pipeline is planned to run alongside and tie into the current natural gas system.

This approach, known as pipeline looping, reduces environmental impact by making use of the existing pipeline corridor.

This pipeline loop is expected to start on the south side of the Peace River, southwest of Taylor and will run for around 32 kilometers.

To accommodate the increased volume of natural gas, it’s also proposed that 400 meters of pipeline east of Taylor be replaced with heavier walled pipe.

As the Birch Grove Program moves through its early planning stages, Enbridge and Westcoast will continue consultations and fieldwork to shape the final proposal.