Three pipelines are in the works for Husky Energy as they expand operations.
The pipelines will carry crude, condensate and water near the Lloydminster area. Spokesperson Mel Duvall says one pipeline is an eight-inch condensate line that will take condensate from Lloydminster to their operations and a water line for raw water that will serve their new thermal plants in addition to a new crude line.
“One will be a 20-inch crude transport line that will carry crude from our new thermal plants that we’re building in the region east of Lloydminster. It’ll carry crude from the plants to our hub in Lloydminster.”
Husky has been holding various open houses for the planned pipelines, with the final session Thursday in North Battleford.
“We did have two open houses for this pipeline project last November. One in Lloydminster and one in the Maidstone area, but beyond that, we know as a result of the 16 10 spill that there’s interest in the community downstream as well in what we’re doing.”
In 2016, the company had a heavy oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River, near Maidstone that resulted in 10 charges provincially and federally. Duvall says the pipeline project being built is not a result of the spill, but rather the growth of their operations.
“We’ve built a number of new thermal plants in recent years and we currently have four plants that are under construction right now.”
Thermal plants are under construction at Dee Valley, Spruce Lake North and Central, in addition to two new plants the company has recently announced they are moving forward with on Spruce Lake East and Westhazel, near Mervin.
The construction on the 20-inch line is expected to begin this fall and will take 10 to 12 months to complete.
“We’re building a number of improvements into this project. It’s a better design, thicker steel, more technology to monitor the pipeline including fibre optics. So we want to be able to provide residents with more information about the project itself and also the improvements we’re building into it.”