TransCanada Corp. received approval from the Alberta Energy Regulator for a majority of its applications to build and operate the Grand Rapids Pipeline Project, the company announced on Oct. 10. Grand Rapids will comply with all regulatory requirements.

TransCanada partnered with Brion Energy Corp. through a joint venture to develop Grand Rapids, a 460-kilometre (287-mile) oil and diluent pipeline system that will connect the area northwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, to terminals in the Edmonton/Heartland region. Both companies will own 50% of the $3 billion project. TransCanada will operate the project, and Brion has already entered into a long-term transportation service contract in support of Grand Rapids.

Construction is expected to begin this fall and, with the project becoming operational in stages. Initial crude oil transportation is expected by mid-2016. Once all stages are fully operational, the system will have a transportation capacity of up to 900,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of crude oil and 330,000 bbl/d of diluent.