How many kilometres of oil and gas pipelines are there in Alberta ?

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) oversees a network of over 440,000 kilometres (km) of pipelines within Alberta dedicated solely to transporting energy resources1. This extensive system includes pipelines carrying oil and gas5.

This network encompasses various types of pipelines, such as gathering, transmission, and distribution lines, which move hydrocarbons from production areas to processing and distribution centres within the province1. Most of these pipelines are regulated provincially by the AER15. Pipelines that cross provincial or federal borders fall under the jurisdiction of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER)145.

The AER's regulated total includes 12,000 km of natural gas utility pipelines for which it conducts surveillance and inspections under an agreement with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC)1. Other gas utility pipelines may be regulated by the AUC or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry's Rural Utilities Section5.

While the exact breakdown varies slightly between sources and dates, older reports indicated that oil and gas pipelines constitute the vast majority (e.g., 85% in one 2020 report) of the over 400,000 km network reported at the time68. The total length of regulated pipelines in Alberta has also grown over time, increasing by 7% between 2014 and 20233.

Citations:

1. https://www.aer.ca/data-and-performance-reports/statistical-reports/alberta-energy-outlook-st98/pipelines-and-other-infrastructure
2. https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/facilities-we-regulate/canadas-pipeline-system/2021/crude-oil-pipeline-transportation-system.html
3. https://www.aer.ca/data-and-performance-reports/industry-performance/pipeline-performance
4. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sources/fossil-fuels/pipelines-across-canada
5. https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1125/$file/878-4.pdf?OpenElement
6. https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/energy/pipelines/
7. https://www.capp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Canadian-Oil-and-Gas-Export-Infrastructure.pdf
8. https://thenarwhal.ca/hidden-danger-life-for-farmers-atop-albertas-400000-kilometres-of-pipelines/
9. https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-alberta.html
10. https://www.auc.ab.ca/gas-utility-pipeline-decisions/

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