China, which has surpassed Japan as the world’s second-largest economy, signaled its intent to invest in North America as Calgary-based natural-gas producer Encana Corp. on Feb. 13 announced the largest Chinese investment in Canada to date. Under terms of a $5.4-billion cooperation agreement, PetroChina, an arm of China’s state-owned National Petroleum Co., will acquire a 50% share in Encana’s Cutbank Ridge gas production facilities, representing 255 million cubic feet per day of proved reserves of approximately one trillion cu ft on 250,000 hectares straddling the Alberta-British Columbia border. Photo: Courtesy Encana Infusion of Chinese capital aimed at priming Cutbank Ridge-area

The engineering manager for a major petroleum pipeline proposal now before Canada’s National Energy Board says project design and construction will mean significant earnings potential for engineering consultants and contractors. Ray Doering, Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. head of regulatory engineering and design, says the preliminary engineering process alone for the Northern Gateway oil pipeline between Alberta and British Columbia would involve “a whole range of different specialty consultants”, including those that would assess associated marine, geotechnical and constructability issues. + Image Map Image: Enbridge “Just in that design phase, where we’re collecting and assessing data to support the detailed design, we’re

By starting work in late November on a $200-million upgrade of its central transmission system, Vancouver is making its first significant investment in the city’s power grid in 30 years. The project includes construction of an oversized three-story substation to meet future capacity needs and a tunnel beneath one of the city’s major waterways. Photo: Courtesy of BC Hydro Upgraded distribution center will take some capacity from three older stations. Marcel Reghelini, BC Hydro senior project manager, says the work is happening in Mount Pleasant, a fast-growing neighborhood no longer adequately served by three aging substations. “We’re putting in a

The lead engineer examining the feasibility of a 900-MW dam in northeastern British Columbia says the proposal holds enormous promise for additional power generation for the province. The Site C Dam would be the third dam along the Peace River. + Image Source: BC Hydro The third impoundment on northeastern British Columbia’s Peace River would provide 900 MW of electricity, but cause a significant loss of habitat, opponents claim. According to John Nunn, technical project director of Vancouver-based engineering consultant Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd., the provincial government is not putting pressure on his company to validate the government’s decision to

State and federal regulators are closely monitoring conditions at the Trans Alaska Pipeline System following the discovery of a leak and a pair of shutdowns at Booster Pump Station 1. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, the pipeline operator, says engineers this week re-started the 800-mile pipeline for a second time since the leak was located in the basement of the facility January 8. + Image Image map: Courtesy of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. The leak happened near pumping station 1 (seen on map as PS1). “The leak was discovered by one of the personnel during routine surveillance of the system,” says