Trans Mountain Corporation Overcomes Numerous Challenges to Construct the Trans Mountain Expansion Project

The Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project is the most largest technically challenging pipeline project ever constructed in Canada and possibly in North America. This project consists of 987 km (613 mi) of NPS 36 and NPS 42 pipeline, 11 pump stations, 3 berths, addition of 19 petroleum storage tanks, and elevation changes not normally designed for in liquid pipelines. The challenges are many and diverse. With similar challenging projects like Keystone XL being cancelled, Trans Mountain stands out in that this challenging project is under construction now with completion planned for late 2023. Challenges include environmental, regulatory, technical, geotechnical, geological, topographical, equipment, manpower, COVID-19, safety, schedule, public perception, design, and recent concerns in BC like fires, extreme temperatures, and overland flooding as well as others. Conceived by Kinder Morgan Corporation (KMC) as an expansion of its existing pipeline to expand offshore markets, ultimately the risk for the pipeline completion was such that KMC sold the pipeline to the Canadian government, essentially the people of Canada. It is very likely that once completed, Trans Mountain Corporation, the owners of the TMC system, will be sold to a major pipeline operator as the Canadian government is not in the pipeline operating business. This paper will outline where the project is now, how it got here, and how it managed all of the challenges faced.