Much preparation work will need to take place before construction of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline and the other facilities can begin. More than 800 jobs could be available as part of this early work.

Natural construction materials such as gravel and sand will be needed to build field production and pipeline facilities pads, camp and storage sites, airstrips, all-weather roads and barge landings. These materials are often called borrow sources.

Potential borrow sites along the pipeline route are being considered. These sites are estimated to contain 600 million cubic metres of suitable borrow material in about 120 locations. The Project will require four to five million cubic metres of borrow material, which will be supplied from 60 to 70 of these sites. A development plan will be prepared for each required site. About one million cubic metres are required for the production facilities at the three natural gas fields.

Access to these sites might be by winter road, all-weather road, the pipeline right-of-way or some combination of these.

Transportation

Before construction starts, materials and construction equipment will need to be moved to areas along the pipeline route. This includes line pipe, coating materials, valves, compressors and process equipment.

Edmonton, Hay River, Enterprise and Fort Simpson will be the ground transportation hubs for the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project. Equipment and supplies will be shipped to these hubs by rail or truck. They will then be moved north from Hay River or Fort Simpson by barge to construction locations down the Mackenzie River, or by truck via the Mackenzie Highway to Fort Simpson and Wrigley and beyond on winter roads, as required. The Dempster Highway may also be used.

For more information on Logistics and Transportation including winter roads, barge landing sites, airstrips and helipads, click here to view the Logistics and Infrastructure Information Sheet (633.8 KB PDF)

back | top