Fewer Spills Off British Columbia

Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Canadian data suggest that improved tanker designs have led to fewer spills off the nation's western shores. This comes as leaders mull their options for increased non-U.S. trade.

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Deliveries Up, Incidents Down

Trade group and federal Canadian data show the amount of oil tanker traffic off the coast of British Columbia has increased steadily since the Trans Mountain Pipeline was expanded, though pollution is down.

The Canadian Energy Center, a group working to advance energy initiatives under the provincial government of oil-rich Alberta, reported that oil tanker traffic off the coast of British Columbia is up more than 800% since the expansion was completed in 2024. Meanwhile, data from Transport Canada, a federal agency, said ship-derived spills are down 95% since the 1970s, driven by improved hull designs and regulation.

The report comes amid efforts by Canadian leaders to expand non-U.S. trade options given the ire expressed toward the country by U.S. President Donald Trump. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is working to halve the amount of U.S. trade and recently threw his support behind another expansion to the Trans Mountain Pipeline.

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Alberta first proposed an entirely new network, but that was highly criticized by British Columbia leaders concerned about the environment and a vessel ban for parts of its coast. A new network would be an expansion to the existing Trans Mountain network and accommodate as much as 400,000 barrels per day (BBL/d) in new capacity.

The expansion project nearly tripled the capacity on the 36-inch, 720-mile Trans Mountain system to a total of 890,000 BBL/d. Canada said crude oil exports to countries other than the U.S. have more than tripled since the expansion project was completed.

Mike Lowry, a spokesperson for the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, told the Canadian Energy Center that his agency put preparedness on display when deploying the KJ Gardner, its largest spill-response vessel, during September exercises.

"It's part of the work we do to make sure everybody is trained and prepared to use our assets just in case," he said.

By the Numbers

• 800% increase in tanker traffic
• 95% of the exported oil goes to the U.S. economy
• 400,000 more barrels per day possible for Trans Mountain

Debate Still Stirring

David Eby, the provincial leader of British Columbia, had expressed deep reservations to Alberta's initial plans, but now said he could get on board so long as tanker restrictions remain in place, though he may not be fully supportive.

The province already dredged out harbors to accommodate the 2024 increase from Trans Mountain. But the new agreement between the provincial government of Alberta and the federal government in Ottawa says adjustments may be needed to tanker restrictions off the coast of British Columbia.

Based on data from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), 95% of the exported oil and 99% of the exported natural gas goes to the U.S. Much of the U.S. refinery sector is tailored to run heavier slates of crude oil such as what's found in Canada, rather than the light, sweet shale-based oil at home.

The U.S. economy is also a net importer of natural gas.

Carney has deemed a handful of projects as national priorities, ranging from expansions to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility to British Columbia, to small nuclear reactors elsewhere

Key Takeaways

• Fewer spills offshore British Columbia
• Leaders are mulling oil export options from the western shores
• Non-U.S. trade is a priority for Canada

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