Westcoast Transmission Company
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Natural gas pipelines |
| Predecessor | Westcoast Transmission Company Limited |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founder | Frank McMahon |
| Fate | Acquired by Duke Energy in 2002; became part of Spectra Energy in 2007; subsidiary of Enbridge since 2017 |
| Headquarters | Canada |
| Products | Natural gas pipelines |
Westcoast Energy Inc. is a Canadian enterprise specializing in natural gas pipelines, founded in 1949 under the name Westcoast Transmission Company Limited by Frank McMahon. Originally created as an affiliate of Pacific Petroleums, the company adopted the Westcoast Energy name in 1988. It was acquired by Duke Energy in 2002 and subsequently became part of Duke’s spin-off, Spectra Energy, in 2007. Since 2017, Westcoast has functioned as a subsidiary within the Enbridge organization.
History
The company was established in 1949 through a special legislative act passed by the Parliament of Canada, with initial plans to build a 650-mile pipeline extending from Taylor to the United States border. Frank McMahon successfully persuaded both Canadian and American authorities to remove barriers on natural gas trade, facilitating the construction of Canada’s inaugural large-diameter pipeline in 1955. By 1957, this pipeline system—including associated gathering networks, processing facilities, and compressor stations—was fully operational. Expansion continued in 1964 with the addition of a processing plant at Fort Nelson, British Columbia, which supported an extra 250-mile pipeline servicing new natural gas fields in Northwest Canada. In 1974, Westcoast established Foothills Pipeline Ltd., a subsidiary tasked with developing the Canadian portion of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System.
In 1999, Westcoast divested its natural gas distribution division, Centra Gas Manitoba, selling it to Manitoba Hydro.
After McMahon’s passing in 1986, the company rebranded as Westcoast Energy Inc. The acquisition by Duke Energy occurred in 2002 for approximately US$3.5 billion. Later, its pipeline operations were separated into Spectra Energy, which merged with Enbridge in 2017.
Company histories
- Gray, Earle. Wildcatters: The Story of Pacific Petroleums and Westcoast Transmission. Cannon Books, 1983.
- Newman, Peter C. Continental Reach: The Westcoast Energy Story. Douglas & McIntyre, 2002.
References
- Gray, Earle. Wildcatters: The Story of Pacific Petroleums and Westcoast Transmission (1983) Cannon Book Distributors Ltd
- History of Westcoast Transmission at Heritage Community Foundation
- December 27, 1954 TIME article "The Big Poker Game" on Frank McMahon’s Westcoast Transmission pipeline plans
- October 21, 1957 TIME article "Tycoon's Wing-Ding" detailing Frank McMahon and the pipeline completion
- University of British Columbia Library record on Westcoast Energy Inc.