Development and Transmission to Market of British Columbia Natural Gas Reserves

Abstract

Abstract The discovery of huge natural gas reserves in British Columbia, strategically located with respect to almost unlimited markets for this premiumfuel along the entire Pacific Coast and in the Far East, has led to the rapid development of the Westcoast Transmission Company's pipeline system during theperiod from 1957 to date. Deliveries of gas, presently in the magnitude of 500million cubic feet per day in the wintertime, are expected to increase to thevicinity of a billion cubic feet per day in the next similar period as a resultof recent reserve developments in the Fort Nelson area and the anticipatedcontinual growth of markets in Canada and the Western States, and off-shoreshipments of LMG as far as Japan. To bring these large volumes of gas tomarket, Westcoast presently operates 1,000 miles of gathering lines and 30-in.mainline. This is being expanded this year by a $57,000,000 construction program into the Fort Nelson area close to the border of the Northwest Territories. A review of the development of natural gas reserves in the Fort St. John and Northwestern Alberta fields has been followed by similar material covering thenew Fort Nelson area. The transmission of British Columbia gas reserves to market requires acomplex pipeline system involving the handling of gas from the various fields, both sweet and sour, wet and dry, at high and low pressures, all under an extreme range of weather conditions. Briefly described are the Company' swellhead dehydration and gathering systems, treating plants, measurementstations, compressor stations and mainline facilities. History of Development The first exploration for petroleum substances in northeastern British Columbia was initiated by the Provincial Government during 1921 and 1922 when six shallow wells were drilled north of Hudson Hope. These wells, drilled to depths of between 1,000 and 2,500 feet, were unsuccessful.