Ruptured natural gas pipeline in Canada impacts supply, electricity in Pacific Northwest
A natural gas pipeline that erupted near Prince George, British Columbia, in October continues to affect natural gas supply, electricity generation, and petroleum refining in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, the Energy Information Agency says.
The pipeline links natural gas from northeastern British Columbia into markets throughout Canada as well as Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Imports of natural gas through the pipeline averaged 1.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) for the first half of 2018, but fell to zero for a day after the Oct. 9 rupture, which occurred on the 36-inch diameter mainline.
It is one of two pipelines that make up the BC Pipeline system, but both had to be shut down and depressurized following the rupture. The smaller pipeline was started up again that day after the rupture and is now operating at 80 percent capacity. There is no timeline on when the ruptured pipeline repair will be completed.
In the meantime, pipeline operators were also able to transport natural gas from production areas in eastern British Columbia through the Kingsgate import point to replace some of the disrupted supply. A temporary access road was built within five days to the site of the rupture.
As a result of the rupture, some refineries in Washington had to cut production, which resulted in an increase in wholesale gasoline prices in the Pacific Northwest. On Oct. 15, one week after the rupture, the price of gasoline in Seattle rose 9 cents per gallon from the previous week. At $3.48 per gallon, it was about 60 cents per gallon more than the U.S. average, according to EIA.
Natural gas is the second-highest source of electricity in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Local utilities in those states asked customers to limit natural gas and electricity use following the rupture, but they are now back to normal usage.
