Trans Mountain Corp. is preparing a second open season for its expanded pipeline system, targeting another 72,000 barrels per day of committed capacity from Alberta to Canada's Pacific coast. This move follows the company's use of drag reduction agents to increase throughput by 90,000 barrels daily soon after the pipeline's full commercial startup.
Current open season activities, which began in early April, are already underway for the initial expanded capacity, according to CEO Mark Maki. The next open season will specifically seek long-term shipping contracts for the newly available space, underscoring sustained demand from producers seeking access to tidewater.
The additional 90,000 bbl/d from chemical additives brings the pipeline's operational capacity beyond its initial 590,000 bbl/d design. Trans Mountain continues to explore incremental capacity gains without major new construction, leveraging process optimization to maximize return on the costly expansion project.
Geopolitically, the expanded export route reduces Canada's reliance on U.S. Gulf Coast refining and storage infrastructure, offering producers direct access to Asia-Pacific markets. This diversification comes as OPEC+ supply management and U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan and Iranian crude tighten global heavy oil availability.
The counter argument to this capacity push centers on long-term demand uncertainty. Environmental opposition, rising carbon pricing in Canada, and the accelerating global energy transition could compress future crude throughput needs before the additional capacity is fully contracted.