Forget Keystone XL, Three New Oil Pipelines to Consider

The Keystone XL pipeline is probably the most famous pipeline project in the world, or at least the US, yet Clean Technica claim that there are at least three North American other pipeline projects that are at least as dangerous to the environment, and they have managed to avoid media attention.

The Bluegrass pipeline will transport natural gas liquids (NGL) through 500 miles of pipe, across Kentucky and to an existing line that heads onto the Gulf of Mexico. Environmentalists fear that any leaks could contaminate water supplies along the route, and that the leaking NGL could cause huge fires.

Related article: No Keystone, No Problem! Canadian Rail Moves to Pick Up the Slack

Residents along the pipelines route were not actually advised of the plans, and only discovered the truth when they asked authorities about the survey markers that had begun to appear on their land.

Bluegrass Pipeline. (Biz Journals)

Locals have put up a fierce resistance to the proposed project, and managed to form a petition containing over 5200 signatures, however the governor of Kentucky appears to still be favouring the oil companies plan.

The Energy East pipeline is another proposal submitted by TransCanada Corp that will transport almost as much Canada heavy crude as the Keystone XL pipe, but instead of heading to the Gulf, it will take the oil to a deepwater port on the New England coast.

Energy East Pipeline. (Tar Sands Free NE)

The Boston Globe explained that “this would provide Canada — whose Alberta-centered oil industry is suffering from too much supply and too little access to overseas markets — its first direct pipeline to a year-round, deep-water port.”

Related article: Canada's LNG Dream – Racing Ahead…at a Snail's Pace

If approved it will be the most expensive TransCanada project ever, at $12 billion, and will require more than 1800 miles of existing natural gas pipeline to be converted to transport crude oil.

Finally, the Eastern Gulf Access pipeline is being proposed by Enbridge to carry Canadian crude oil from Illinois, 770 miles to Louisiana. The plan is likely to receive approval fairly quickly as most of the proposed pipeline already exists, and must just be converted from natural gas. Converted pipelines have to meet far fewer regulations, so approval is much easier to obtain.

Eastern Gulf Access Pipeline. (Inside Climate News)

By. Joao Peixe of Oilprice.com