Updated June 2023
Oil Pipelines
Alberta is serviced by major export lines that provide the bulk of export capacity leaving the province (see Figure S8.2).
Alberta has many interprovincial pipelines listed in Table S8.1.
Market Access
In 2022, total pipeline design capacity to move oil from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin to outside markets was 745.3 thousand cubic metres per day (103 m3/d) or 4690 thousand barrels per day (103 bbl/d). Table S8.2 lists the existing pipelines that transport oil from Alberta and their destinations and design capacities.
In 2022, there was an estimated 730 103 m3/d (4594 103 bbl/d) of pipeline export capacity for oil from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (Figure S8.3). This amount reflects the available capacity, which was higher in 2022 than the design capacity due to enhancement and optimization work in the previous 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 transporting natural gas liquids, including ethane, butane, and condensate. Since 2004, demand for condensate has exceeded Alberta’s supply because condensate is a common diluent for oil sands bitumen. Alberta now relies on imports of condensate to meet demand. Condensate imported from the U.S. is primarily through the Southern Lights pipeline (from Manhattan, Illinois, to Edmonton, Alberta) and the 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