Pipelines by the numbers
119,000 km
The total length of transmission pipelines operated by CEPA members. It’s enough to circle the earth three times.
99.999%
Percentage of liquid product and natural gas transported safely by pipelines between 2002 and 2015.
3rd
Canada holds the largest oil reserves outside of OPEC, and has the third largest in the world.
Saudi Arabia is first, Venezuela is second and Canada is third with 173 Billion BOE (Barrel of Oil Equivalent combining oil and natural gas). With all of those resources spread across Canada – from British Columbia to the offshore fields in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, from the Arctic to Alberta and Saskatchewan – Canada uses pipelines to safely transport energy to the people who need it.
$11.5 billion
How much Canada’s transmission pipeline contributed to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015.
34,000
Number of full-time equivalent jobs (FTE) that the pipeline industry supports across Canada.
$81 billion
Value of Canadian crude oil and natural gas exports in 2014 — most of which was transported by pipeline.
94%
Percentage of transportation demand in Canada supplied by refined petroleum products.
4,200
The number of rail cars needed to transport the 3.4 million barrels of crude oil transported each day by pipeline in Canada.
More than half
The homes in Canada are heated by natural gas.
3.4 million
Barrels of crude oil transported by transmission pipelines in Canada every day — the equivalent of more than 200 Olympic sized swimming pools.
97%
The percentage of Canadian natural gas and crude oil production transported by transmission pipelines.
More than 70%
Of Canada’s energy demand is met by natural gas or products made from crude oil.
3
Number of times Canada’s natural gas and liquid transmission pipelines would circle the earth if laid end-to-end.
30 – 35
Number of days it takes for oil to travel by pipeline from Alberta to southern Ontario.
Up to 40 km per hour
Speed natural gas moves through a pipeline.
85 kilometers
The length of train that would be required to transport the 3 million barrels of crude oil transported by pipeline in Canada every day.
18 metres
The size of the permanent right-of-way for a large diameter transmission pipeline.
500 BC
The first recorded use of pipelines to transport natural gas — the pipelines were constructed of bamboo.
830,000 km
Estimate of Canada’s underground natural gas and liquids pipeline network (gathering, transmission and delivery lines).
$1.2 billion
How much was invested in maintaining and monitoring pipeline systems by CEPA members over in 2016.
454
Number of emergency response exercises held in 2016 by CEPA members.
$22.8 million
Invested in innovative technology in 2016.
$50 billion
CEPA members are proposing to invest a total of $50 billion in Canadian pipeline projects over the next five years.