VANCOUVER ISLAND PIPELINE--1. LONG-AWAITED SYSTEM TO EXPAND CANADIAN GAS NETWORK

After more than 30 years of discussions and planning, the Vancouver Island (British Columbia) pipeline is finally under construction. The new pipeline will allow natural gas to replace the heavy oil now being used on the island, thereby significantly reducing both air emissions and oil-barge traffic along the southern coast of Canada. The selection of pipeline material, the engineering design, and the construction plan of the pipeline will minimize the construction's environmental impact. The pipeline, designed to operate at 14,895 kPa (1,027 psi) over its 590-km (366-mile) length, crosses a variety of terrain conditions in areas ranging from sparse to dense population. The elevation varies from -425 m (-1,394 ft) in Georgia Strait, an arm of the Pacific Ocean, to higher than 1,150 m (3,772 ft) on land. The subsea portion of the route represents 15% of the length of the project. This first of two articles on the project provides an overview and discusses the land portions; the conclusion (O&GJ, Vol. 88 No. 33) focuses on the marine crossing construction.