TransCanada to develop Northern Courier Pipeline to carry oil sands bitumen and diluent to upgrader
01 August 2012
The Fort Hills Energy Limited Partnership has selected TransCanada Corporation to design, build, own and operate the proposed Northern Courier Pipeline project. The project, with an estimated capital cost of $660 million, is a 90-kilometer (56-mile) pipeline system that will transport bitumen and diluent between the Fort Hills oil sands mine site and the Voyageur Upgrader located north of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Northern Courier Pipeline is fully subscribed under long-term contract to service the Fort Hills Mine, which is jointly owned by Suncor Energy Inc, Total E&P Canada Ltd. and Teck Resources Limited and is operated by Suncor Energy Operating Inc. Northern Courier is conditional on and subject to the Fort Hills project receiving sanction by its co-owners and obtaining regulatory approval. TransCanada expects to file its initial regulatory application in late 2012, and at that time a more detailed schedule will be provided.
The final pipeline route will be determined with Aboriginal and stakeholder input, as well as consideration for environmental, archaeological and cultural values, land use compatibility, safety, constructability and economics.
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