British Columbia Marine Terminal Projects

Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 August 2012 14:34

Vancouver

Expansion of Trans Mountain Pipeline System

The 1,156 km “Trans Mountain Pipeline System” was originally completed in 1952. Since that time, the pipeline capacity has been increased a number of times by twinning parts of the line and adding associated facilities. On April 12, 2012 Kinder Morgan Canada announced it will proceed with its proposed plans to expand the existing Trans Mountain system following receipt of strong commitments from its commercial customers.

The preliminary scope of the project includes: 

• Twining the existing pipeline within the existing right‐of‐way where possible
• Expanding to result in a dual line operation the legacy (existing) line for refined products, iso‐octane, synthetic crude oils, light crude oils
• Adding new pump stations along the route
• Additional storage capacity
• Expanding Westridge Marine Terminal
• Increasing capacity between Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal

The proposed expansion will increase capacity on Trans Mountain from approximately 300,000 barrels/day to about 750,000 barrels/day.

 

Westshore Coal Terminal

In 2011, Westshore moved a record 27.3 million tonnes of coal, up from its previous record of 24.7 million tonnes in 2010. This improved performance came through expansive equipment upgrades over the past five years. A three-year, $47 million project was completed in 2010 and increased Westshore's nominal annual coal throughput capacity from 24 to 29 million tons. This phase added a replacement dumper barrel in the coal unloading station, as well as new conveyors and ancillary equipment and a fourth new highly efficient, state-of-the-art stacker-reclaimer.

  

A second, $53 million project is underway to replace an old single rotary dumper and add a second twin set dumper, available for train unloading. To speed the unloading process, Westshore is also adding three coal car positioners to the dumper station, including two exit positioners for the first time.

The two oldest stacker-reclaimers on site have been upgraded, and four of the seven conveyor transfer chutes are being redesigned and replaced. This second major capital project is expected to be completed late in 2012 and will take Westshore’s capacity from 29 to an estimated 33 million tons a year at a projected cost of $4.1 billion. 

 

Neptune Terminals

Neptune Terminals handles potash, steelmaking coal, bulk vegetable oils, fertilizers and agricultural products shipped to markets around the world. As was announced in April 2012, Neptune is also upgrading its terminal to handle imported phosphate rock.

Current project activity includes:

2010-13: Rail track optimization to facilitate the movement of longer trains on the terminal and minimize the need to separate and shunt railcars. A second railcar dumper, similar to the existing steelmaking coal railcar dumper for unloading steelmaking coal from trains will be added. Conveyors will also be installed to transport the steelmaking coal from the second railcar dumper to the storage area.

2011-13: Replacement of a shiploader and foundation reinforcement at berth one. The new, longer boom will allow ships to be loaded without needing to be re-positioned. In addition, a new steelmaking coal stacker reclaimer will allow ships to be loaded more productively.

2012: Power system upgrade to improve power service delivery and reliability for the terminal.

2012-13: A new storage facility for phosphate rock, replacing the original silos that were built when Neptune first opened in the mid-1960s. Also new equipment to transfer phosphate rock from ships to storage and onto trains along with a redesign of rail operations to accommodate the trains themselves.

By 2013, accumulated upgrade investments are expected to be in the range of $400 million.

 

Vancouver Airport Fuel Facility

VAFFC is proposing to develop a new fuel delivery system to serve the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) that includes:

• Upgrades to the marine terminal to accommodate fuel cargo shipments on a range of vessel types and sizes, from 20,000 DWT articulated barges to 40,000 DWT Handysize tankers, and up to partially laden Panamax-class tankers in the 60,000 to 80,000 dwt category;
• Construction of six above ground steel tanks within a secondary containment compound on land directly adjacent and northeast of VAFFC's marine terminal property.  The tanks will have a total storage capacity of approximately 80 million litres (500,000 barrels)
• Construction of an approximate 1 km long pipeline to transfer off-loaded fuel from the marine terminal to the fuel receiving facility, and an approximate 15 km long pipeline to deliver fuel from the fuel receiving facility to the Vancouver International Airport.

                                                               

                                                                                    conceptual plan

Initially, the barges that currently service the existing Burrard Inlet terminal are expected to also service  the new facility. Longer term, tankers up to in Panamax size will be accommodated in order to meet future demand for fuel at YVR and the likelihood of needing to source that fuel through global suppliers.

 

 

Kitimat

KM LNG Operating General Partnership

  

The company proposes to construct and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal at Bish Cove near the Port of Kitimat. The terminal would include LNG loading, storage, natural gas delivery, liquefaction and export facilities. Delivery of gas to the terminal would be via pipeline, approximately 15 km long, from the Pacific Trail Pipelines, which will be connected to the existing Spectra Energy’s Westcoast Pipeline system.

  

Storage capacity will be two 210,000 m3 LNG storage tanks with potential future expansion to three tanks. Number of shipments expected: 4 to 5 per month.

• Export capacity 3.5–5.0 million tons/year
• Provincial and Federal Environmental Certificates received
• Target date of operation: 2015 subject to a decision to proceed which is expected before the end of 2012

Encana and EOG Resources hold 30% each of the joint venture, with Apache Corp. the majority owner at 40%.

 

LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink Pipeline

Project partners: Shell Canada, Korea Gas, Mitsubishi Corp, PetroChina Co. Ltd , TransCanada Pipelines

LNG Canada was formally announced in May 2012 and the project partners are proposing to build and operate a two billion cubic feet/day liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal. In June 2012, TransCanada PipeLines formally announced it was selected by Shell Canada Limited and its joint venture partners in the LNG Canada project to develop an approximately 700 km pipeline to supply the facility.

The project will consist of the construction and operation of natural gas treatment facilities, liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction and storage facilities, marine terminal facilities, an interconnecting cryogenic LNG transfer pipeline, and supporting facilities/infrastructure.

       

LNG Canada will initially consist of two LNG processing units referred to as “trains”, each with the capacity to produce six million tons per annum of LNG, with an option to expand the project in the future. Project facts:

• LNG Carriers: up to Q Max compatible
• Capacity: 12 million tons per annum with option to expand
• Environmental Review Process Timeline: Approximately 36 months

The regulatory process will commence later in 2012 with the filing of the Project Description.

A full Environmental Assessment will be completed for the LNG facilities, main terminal and shipping lanes, including assessment of cumulative effects. The partners decision to move the project into development could be taken around the middle of the decade, with start up around the end of the decade, pending regulatory approvals and investment decisions.

 

BC LNG

BC LNG is a 50/50 joint venture between the Haisla First Nation of Kitimat, and LNG Partners LLC of Houston, Texas. The project comprises of an LNG plant with an initial capacity of 700,000 tonnes a year export capacity, however, the proponents have been granted a 20-year export licence from the National Energy Board to ship 1.8 million tonnes a year. The gas for BC LNG would come on the existing Pacific Northern Gas pipeline and possibly on the proposed Pacific Trail pipeline. The plant capacity could be increased to 1.8 million tonnes as additional pipeline capacity is built.

A final investment decision is expected in 2012 with the proposed plant operational in early 2014.

 

Shell Canada & Partners

Royal Dutch Shell PLC is moving forward with a study to develop a 12-million tons/year LNG export terminal. Shell’s partners in this venture which includes storage and a marine export terminal are Korea Gas, Mitsubishi and Petro-China.

The partners will use Western Canadian natural gas, including Horn River and Montney shale in the operation, estimated to cost $12 billion. The plant and terminal could be on line by 2020, pending regulatory and corporate approvals.

Shell holds a 40% working interest. The partners KOGAS, Mitsubishi and PetroChina each hold a 20% working interest.

Talisman Energy Inc., Nexen Inc. and Imperial Oil Ltd.

The partners are in the early stages of assessing the options for a further LNG export project from Kitimat. Canada's Nexen announced on November 29 2011 that it had struck a deal to form a joint venture focused on its British Columbia shale gas business. Japanese firms Inpex and JGC have agreed to pay CAD700mn (US$680mn) for a 40% stake in Nexen's properties in the Horn River, Cordova and Liard Basins.

The project is complicated by a China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) $15.1 billion bid in July 2012 for Nexen. The government must therefore decide under the terms of the Investment Canada Act whether the takeover would be of net benefit to Canada. The deal is also facing scrutiny in the U.S, where Nexen has extensive interests in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines

The Enbridge Northern Gateway Project involves construction of a new 1,177 km twin pipeline system running from near Edmonton, Alberta, to a new marine terminal in Kitimat, to export petroleum and import condensate.

   

The terminal would be located on the west side of Kitimat Arm about 7 kms south of Kitimat at Bish Cove. The project calls for a two berth facility for both crude oil export (525,000 barrels/day) and/or condensate import (193,000 barrels/day) plus a utility berth and product storage tanks.

Subject to project approval, marine construction is expected to begin in 2014 and complete in 2017/18. The project is subject to four major review processes:

• Engineering process
• Regulatory review and process
• Environment and Socio-Economic Assessment
• Technical Review Process of Marine Terminal Systems and Transhipment Sites (commonly referred to as TERMPOL) which is now successfully complete.

image of the proposed ENG crude oil export and condensate import terminal.

 

Rio Tinto Alcan Expansion and Modernization

 

Rio Tinto Alcan is undertaking a $3.3 billion modernization project which will increase its aluminum smelter production capacity by more than 48% to approximately 420,000 tons/year.

First metal is expected to come on stream in the first half of 2014, ramping up to full production over the next nine months. The modernized smelter will be powered exclusively by wholly-owned hydropower and will use proprietary AP40 smelting technology. 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Prince Rupert

British Gas (BG) LNG Terminal

The Prince Rupert Port Authority has engaged with the British Gas Group to consider Prince Rupert for a potential LNG terminal that could be used to load Western Canadian gas onto ships bound for consumers in Japan, South Korea and China.

 

Petronas LNG Terminal

 

 

The Port Authority has engaged with Petronas to conduct a feasibility study for a potential LNG plant on Lelu Island near Prince Rupert. The plant would be used to produce and load LNG from the companies Northeast British Columbia gas fields onto ships bound for consumers in the Asia Pacific.

 

Photo of Lelu Island - shaded bright green

 

 

  

 

The Road Rail Utilitity Corridor Project at Ridley Island

This project will involve construction of an access road, rail loop, utilities, onshore terminal infrastructure and marine components to Ridley Island Industrial Park. By providing vehicle and rail access as well as basic utilities to prospective users, the Prince Rupert Port Authority anticipates to be able to attract investments consistent with the port’s 2020 Gateway Vision.

The first phase of the project consists of three inbound and two outbound tracks for coal, potash and other bulk terminal developments, two additional tracks that form a loop around the main part of Ridley Island and one new track that extends off the rail loop towards Ridley Terminals.

The full build out of the Ridley Island road, rail and utility corridor will consist of:

• An access road with two lanes wide paralleling the rail lop and including an overpass at the northwest corner of the loop and an underpass at the southern end of the loop. This will facilitate vehicle access to the potash terminal, lands within the rail loop, and lands at the south end of the island. 
• A new approximately 3.4 km 69 kV powerline, owned by the PRPA, connecting Ridley Island and proposed development sites to the existing power transmission system.
• An approximately 7.8 km rail loop corridor with capacity for 14 inbound tracks and 11 outbound tracks. 

 

Ridley Terminals Expansion

This $200 million multi-phase project is designed to allow Ridley Terminals Inc. (a Federal Crown Corporation) to eventually increase its annual shipping capacity from 12 million tons to 24 million tons by 2014. 

The first year of the project included the installation of two dumper barrels in December 2011, which marked the first capacity growth at the terminal since it was commissioned in 1983. 2011's planned works were completed with the clearing 44 acres of additional lands for improvement.

2012 involves site civil works, upgrades of the existing stacker/reclaimers, delivery of a third stacker/reclaimer, installation of additional conveyance, and installation and upgrade of nearly 14 km of rail infrastructure.

In 2013 construction will continue with the integration of newly available land area into the existing operation. In 2014 a new tandem rotary dumper and a new thaw shed will be added to the terminal's operation, doubling total terminal capacity from the initial 12 million tons/year. The Ridley Terminals capacity realization project is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2014.

 

Canpotex Potash Terminal

Canpotex Terminals Limited, the world’s largest exporter of potash, is proposing to construct an $800 million Potash Export Terminal in response to increased product demand. The project is a 10 million tons/year, $800 million, potash export terminal consisting of a deepwater marine wharf, potash storage sheds, a railcar unloading and conveyor system and a transmission line that connects to the British Columbia grid.

 

 

 

 

 

Fairview Terminal - Phase 2

 

 

This project represents an estimated $650 million capital expansion plan that will increase the current Fairview container terminal capacity from 500,000 TEU's to over 2,000,000 TEU's by late 2014. A fourth container handling crane is also to be delivered this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watson Island Industrial Site Redevelopment

The project partners of Watson Island Development Corporation have advanced a conditional offer of $5m million to the City of Prince Rupert and $500,000 to the District of Port Edward to purchase Watson Island.

The partners comprising Lax Kw’alaams First Nation, the Metlakatla Development Corporation, Colonial Coal International and Hillsborough Resources are in the process of formulating a business case which will outline the specific investment opportunities available on the site. It is anticipated that the location would be ideal for transportation related services such as transloading facilities, cold storage warehousing, or inspection services.

The site was formerly Skeena Cellulose Pulp Mill which closed its doors in 2001 and four years later, the mill was purchased by Sun Wave Forest Products. The purchase is subject to resolution of outstanding legal & financial issues involving the former ownership.

Westview Pellet Terminal

  

Pinnacle Renewable Energy Group, the longest established pellet producer in Western Canada has recently announced plans to construct and operate a $42 million wood pellet receiving, storage and shipping facility. Pinnacle Renewable Energy Group owns and operates six pellet plants across British Columbia with a production capacity well over one million tons annually.

The proposed facility will be designed specifically to receive pellets transported by rail from production facilities in the interior of British Columbia, to store in storage silos and load onto vessels for export. The project includes the construction of private rail storage tracks, wood pellet receiving and unloading, the building and installation of conveyor and ship loader systems. Storage will be provided by up to seven silos, two of which will be constructed in 2012.

 

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