Keystone Pipeline facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keystone Pipeline System (partly operational and proposed)
Keystone Pipeline route
Location
Country	Canada United States
General information
Type	Crude oil
Owner	TC Energy
Website	www.tcenergy.com/operations

Keystone XL Pipeline (Phase 4)
Location
From	Hardisty, Alberta
Passes through	Baker, Montana
To	Steele City, Nebraska
General information
Type	Crude oil
Status	Cancelled
Contractors	WorleyParsons
Technical information
Length	1,897 km (1,179 mi)
Diameter	36 in (914 mm)
Website	www.keystonexl.com

The Keystone Pipeline System is a large oil pipeline network. It moves crude oil from Canada to the United States. The system started working in 2010. It is owned by TC Energy and, for a time, the Government of Alberta.

The pipeline carries oil from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in Alberta. It delivers oil to refineries in Illinois and Texas. It also sends oil to large storage areas in Cushing, Oklahoma.

The company that runs the pipeline, TransCanada Keystone Pipeline GP Ltd., manages four parts of the project. The first two parts could move about 590,000 barrels of oil each day. The third part can move up to 700,000 barrels daily to Texas refineries.

A planned fourth pipeline, called Keystone XL (KXL), was meant to be a shorter route. It would have connected Alberta and Steele City, Nebraska. This part would have also carried American oil from Montana and North Dakota. It was unclear how much oil would stay in the U.S. or be sent to other countries.

The Keystone XL project became very famous. Many environmental groups opposed it due to concerns about climate change. U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden all made decisions about its future. In June 2021, the plans for Keystone XL were finally stopped.

What is the Keystone Pipeline System?

The Keystone Pipeline system has several parts. These include Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. Phase IV, known as Keystone XL, was planned but never fully built.

Construction on Phase III, from Cushing, Oklahoma, to Nederland, Texas, began in 2012. It opened in January 2014. This completed the path from Hardisty, Alberta to Nederland, Texas.

The Keystone XL Pipeline (Phase IV) was meant to be a new 36-inch pipeline. It would have gone from Hardisty, Alberta, through Montana and South Dakota. It would have ended in Steele City, Nebraska. This part was designed to move up to 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day. This oil would come from Canada and the U.S. and go mainly to refineries in the Gulf Coast area.

How Long and Big is the Pipeline?

The original Keystone Pipeline System has been working since 2010. It is about 3,461 kilometers (2,150 miles) long. It brings Canadian crude oil to markets in the U.S. Midwest and Cushing, Oklahoma.

In Canada, the first phase changed about 864 kilometers (537 miles) of an existing natural gas pipeline to carry crude oil. It also added about 373 kilometers (232 miles) of new 30-inch pipeline.

The U.S. part of the original Keystone Pipeline is about 1,744 kilometers (1,084 miles) long. It uses new 30-inch pipeline. This part goes through North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. It is buried at least 4 feet underground.

In 2011, the second phase added a 480-kilometer (298-mile) extension. This part goes from Steele City, Nebraska, to Cushing, Oklahoma. It increased the pipeline's capacity to between 435,000 and 591,000 barrels per day.

If the Keystone XL had been completed, it would have added 510,000 barrels per day. This would have brought the total capacity to about 1.1 million barrels per day. The original Keystone Pipeline cost about US$5.2 billion to build.

History of the Keystone Pipeline

The idea for the Keystone Pipeline came about in 2005. It was proposed by TransCanada Corporation, a company based in Calgary, Alberta. Canada's National Energy Board approved the project in 2007.

In 2007, a Canadian union asked the government to stop the pipeline. They argued it would mostly serve U.S. markets and create few jobs for Canadians.

In 2008, ConocoPhillips bought half of the project. But later that year, TransCanada decided to own the pipeline fully. They bought ConocoPhillips' shares in 2009. It took TransCanada over two years to get all the needed permits. Construction then took another two years.

When Did the Pipeline Start Working?

The first part of the pipeline (Phase I) was finished in June 2010. It started moving oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska. From there, it went to refineries in Roxana, Illinois, and Patoka, Illinois.

In February 2011, the second part (Phase II) was completed. This part connected Steele City to a large oil storage area in Cushing, Oklahoma.

Pipeline Leaks and Safety Concerns

The pipeline has had some leaks. In May 2011, there were leaks, and TransCanada was ordered to fix them. In April 2016, a leak of about 16,800 gallons happened in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. The pipeline was shut down and restarted at a lower pressure.

In November 2017, a larger leak of about 9,700 barrels occurred in Marshall County, South Dakota. This leak was contained quickly. Federal investigators later found that a vehicle had damaged the pipeline in 2008, causing the leak.

In April 2018, it was reported that the Keystone pipeline had leaked more oil, and more often, than the company had told regulators.

In October 2019, another break happened near Edinburg, North Dakota. This spilled an estimated 9,120 barrels of oil.

2022 Spill

On December 7, 2022, a large leak happened in Washington County, Kansas. About 588,000 gallons of oil spilled into a creek. This was the biggest leak in the U.S. in nearly a decade. The pipeline was shut down, and U.S. oil prices went up.

Political Decisions and the Keystone XL

In 2011, the U.S. Department of State delayed a decision on the Keystone XL. They wanted to study different routes around the Sandhills in Nebraska. President Obama later supported building the southern part of the pipeline (Phase III).

In January 2015, the Nebraska Supreme Court allowed construction to move forward. The House and Senate passed bills to approve the pipeline. However, President Obama vetoed the bill in February 2015. He said the decision should be made by the President. The Senate could not get enough votes to override his veto.

In November 2015, President Obama officially rejected the Keystone XL project. He cited environmental concerns and the pipeline's symbolic importance in the climate change debate.

Donald Trump signing orders to move forward with the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, January 24, 2017

On January 24, 2017, President Donald Trump signed orders to restart the Keystone XL project. He wanted to speed up the approval process. In March 2017, he signed a permit allowing TransCanada to build the pipeline.

In November 2017, Nebraska approved the pipeline, but with a different, longer route. This caused more delays for TransCanada.

In November 2018, a judge stopped construction. The judge said the permit process had not followed environmental laws. In March 2019, President Trump issued a new permit directly.

In March 2020, the government of Alberta, Canada, announced a large financial commitment to the Keystone XL project. TC Energy then announced they would start construction.

However, in April 2020, another judge stopped construction again. The judge ruled that the project had violated the Endangered Species Act.

On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden revoked the permit for the pipeline on his first day in office. Finally, on June 9, 2021, TC Energy officially stopped all plans for the Keystone XL project. About 8% of the pipeline had been built when it was canceled.

Who Owns the Pipeline?

The company that owns the Keystone Pipeline System is now called TC Energy Corporation. They changed their name from TransCanada Corporation in May 2020. This new name better shows that they work in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.

The pipeline was first planned as a partnership between TransCanada and ConocoPhillips. But TransCanada later decided to buy out ConocoPhillips' share in 2009.

Where Does the Pipeline Go?

The Keystone Pipeline System has several completed parts.

Phase 1: From Canada to Illinois

Keystone 30-inch pipeline (phase 1) near Swanton, Nebraska (2009)

This part of the pipeline is about 3,456 kilometers (2,147 miles) long. It starts in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada. It then goes to Steele City, Nebraska. From there, it continues to the Wood River Refinery in Roxana, Illinois, and the Patoka Oil Terminal in Patoka, Illinois.

The Canadian section includes about 864 kilometers (537 miles) of old natural gas pipeline that was changed to carry oil. It also has 373 kilometers (232 miles) of new pipeline.

The U.S. section is 2,219 kilometers (1,379 miles) long. It runs through several counties in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Phase 1 started working in June 2010.

Phase 2: Connecting to Oklahoma

The Keystone-Cushing pipeline connects Phase 1 in Steele City, Nebraska. It goes south through Kansas to the oil hub in Cushing, Oklahoma. This part is 468 kilometers (291 miles) long. It was built in 2010 and started working in February 2011.

Truck hauling 36-inch pipe to build Keystone-Cushing pipeline (phase 2) southeast of Peabody, Kansas (2010)

Phase 3a: To Texas Refineries

The Cushing MarketLink pipeline starts in Cushing, Oklahoma. It carries American oil south for about 435 miles (700 kilometers). It ends near terminals in Nederland, Texas. This part helps move oil to refineries in the Port Arthur, Texas, area. This phase started pumping oil in January 2014.

Phase 3b: To Houston

The Houston Lateral pipeline is about 47 miles (76 kilometers) long. It carries crude oil from the main pipeline in Liberty County, Texas, to refineries and terminals in the Houston area. This part was built from 2013 to 2016 and started working in 2017.

Phase 4: The Canceled Keystone XL

The planned Keystone XL pipeline would have started in the same area in Alberta, Canada, as Phase 1. The Canadian part would have been 526 kilometers (327 miles) of new pipeline. It would have entered the U.S. in Morgan, Montana. It would then go through Baker, Montana, where American oil would be added. Finally, it would travel through South Dakota and Nebraska to join the existing Keystone pipelines at Steele City, Nebraska.

This phase caused the most debate. This was because its route would have crossed the Sandhills in Nebraska.

Why Was the Pipeline Debated?

The Keystone Pipeline project, especially the XL part, caused a lot of discussion. People had different views on its impact.

Political Discussions

Map showing how the United States House of Representatives voted on the Keystone Pipeline, November 14, 2014: "No" votes are colored in red; "Yes" votes in green. Map does not represent population, only geographic area.

The pipeline became a big topic in U.S. politics. Some people believed it would create jobs and help the economy. Others worried about its environmental effects.

President Obama said the pipeline had become "an overinflated role in our political discourse." He felt it was used more for political arguments than for serious policy discussion. He rejected it to show U.S. leadership on climate change.

President Trump later tried to revive the project. He wanted to speed up the approval process. However, President Biden stopped the project again on his first day in office.

Concerns from Indigenous Communities

Many Indigenous and Canadian Aboriginal groups opposed the Keystone XL project. They worried about damage to sacred sites, pollution, and water contamination. These issues could harm their communities and health.

In 2011, Indigenous leaders protested outside the White House. They said the pipeline would destroy "ancient and historical cultural resources" on their lands. They also worried about oil spills contaminating fish and water, which are important for their diets.

Some Indigenous groups call the pipeline the "black snake." This name shows how they see it as sneaky, dangerous, and harmful. They believe it threatens their land and way of life.

TC Energy tried to work with Aboriginal groups. They created policies to promote Aboriginal employment and business. However, many Indigenous nations still opposed the pipeline.

Taking Private Land for Public Use (Eminent Domain)

Some landowners in Nebraska refused to let TransCanada build the pipeline on their property. TransCanada tried to use eminent domain. This is when the government or a company with government permission can take private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell.

Landowners complained about threats and lawsuits from TransCanada. For example, in Texas, 78-year-old Eleanor Fairchild was arrested for standing in front of pipeline equipment on her farm. Her land had been taken by eminent domain.

By 2015, TransCanada dropped its lawsuits against Nebraska landowners. They agreed to follow the decisions of the Nebraska Public Service Commission.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental groups had many concerns about the Keystone XL pipeline. These included air pollution and the risk of leaks and spills. They worried about harm to water supplies, migratory birds, and other wildlife.

The Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer

A map showing aquifer thickness of the Ogallala Aquifer with the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route laid over

A major concern was the pipeline's original route. It crossed the Sandhills, a large wetland area in Nebraska. It also crossed the Ogallala Aquifer. This aquifer is one of the world's largest sources of fresh water. It provides drinking water for millions and supports a lot of farming.

Critics worried that a major leak could ruin drinking water and harm the Midwest economy. In 2011, TransCanada agreed to change the route to avoid the Sandhills and the Ogallala Aquifer.

Potential for Oil Spills

Experts warned about the risk of oil spills. One study suggested there could be many more spills than TransCanada estimated. It said a major spill could release huge amounts of oil.

For example, a spill in the Sandhills could release over 180,000 barrels of oil. Spills at river crossings could affect drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people.

The pipeline also crosses an active seismic zone (where earthquakes happen). Opponents worried that TransCanada wanted to use thinner steel and pump oil at higher pressures.

TransCanada said the Keystone Pipeline would be very safe. They claimed it would have 57 improvements beyond standard requirements. They also said they would take full responsibility for any environmental problems.

Oil from Alberta's Oil Sands

The Keystone XL was planned to carry oil from Alberta's oil sands. This oil comes from bitumen, a tarry fossil fuel mixed with clay, sand, and rock. Getting this oil involves large strip mines that remove forests.

Environmental groups argued that oil from the oil sands creates more greenhouse gas emissions than regular oil. They said building the pipeline would go against efforts to create a clean energy economy.

Some argued that if the pipeline wasn't built, the oil would still be extracted and moved by other, less safe methods like trains or tankers. Others believed that the pipeline would make it easier and cheaper to extract more oil from the oil sands, leading to more emissions.

Protests Against the Pipeline

The Keystone XL project faced strong public opposition from the start.

Bill McKibben, an environmental activist, led many protests. In 2011, over 1,000 people were arrested for nonviolent protests at the White House.

On November 6, 2011, thousands of people formed a human chain around the White House. They wanted President Obama to block the pipeline.

In August 2012, activists started a "tree sit" protest in East Texas. They lived in trees to block pipeline construction. In September 2012, protesters sat in trees near Winnsboro, Texas.

An estimated crowd of 35,000–50,000 gathers near the Washington Monument in February 2013 to protest the Keystone XL pipeline and support action on climate change

On February 17, 2013, a very large protest took place in Washington, D.C. Between 35,000 and 50,000 people attended. It was one of the biggest climate rallies in U.S. history. Protesters asked President Obama to reject the pipeline.

In March 2014, hundreds of protesters were arrested at the White House. They tied themselves to the fence and lay on a black tarp, symbolizing an oil spill.

Indigenous groups also held their own hearings and filed lawsuits. They continued to resist the pipeline's construction on their lands.

Alternative Ways to Move Oil

Other projects were proposed to move oil. In 2011, Enbridge bought part of the Seaway pipeline. They reversed its flow to move oil from Cushing, Oklahoma, to the Gulf of Mexico. This helped ease the oil buildup at Cushing.

In 2012, TransCanada considered shortening the Keystone XL path to avoid federal approval. They also proposed an all-Canadian pipeline called Energy East. This pipeline would go east to Saint John, New Brunswick, providing oil to Canadian refineries.

Enbridge also expanded its existing Line 67 pipeline, called "Alberta Clipper." This added more capacity to move oil from Canada to the U.S.

Images for kids

• 

  The logo for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline.