Keystone XL Pipeline to Gulf Coast to Crank Up Jan. 22

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP/Staff) – The operator of the $2.3 billion Keystone XL pipeline between Cushing, Oklahoma, and the Gulf Coast of Texas expects to begin shipping oil on January 22. Along the way, the pipeline runs through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County. TransCanada Corp. began injecting crude oil into the 485-mile, 36-inch pipeline in early December. Spokesman Davis Sheremata says the process involves injecting about three million barrels of oil into the system at Cushing and moving it to the Houston area. Once line fill is complete, TransCanada’s team will move into the final phase of commissioning meters, pump stations, and other facilities.

Sheremata said Tuesday that regulatory filings by TransCanada set Jan. 3 date as the effective date for rates, rules, and regulations to become effective for transportation services to the Gulf Coast. The pipeline will have an initial capacity of 700,000 barrels of oil per day.