Canadian government-owned pipeline operator Trans Mountain Corp. named Dawn Farrell, former top boss of electricity firm TransAlta Corp., as its CEO and president on Aug. 10.
Farrell will take over from interim president Rob Van Walleghem on Aug. 15 and inherits a company struggling with ballooning costs and lengthy delays as it builds the Trans Mountain expansion (TMX) project.
TMX will nearly triple the capacity of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline that carries 300,000 bbl/d of crude from Alberta's oil sands to Canada's Pacific coast but has faced opposition from environmental groups and some first nations.
Earlier this year, Trans Mountain Corp. said the cost of the expansion had soared to C$21.4 billion (US$16.76 billion) from C$12.6 billion, and its in-service date would be pushed back by nine months to late 2023.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government bought the pipeline in 2018 to ensure the expansion went ahead and intends to sell Trans Mountain once the work is complete.
However, in June Canada's parliamentary budget officer said the pipeline is no longer profitable due to cost over-runs.
"The Trans Mountain Expansion Project has been in planning and construction for the past 12 years and as it passes the 60% completion mark, I look forward to leading the organization to this project's end while steering the next phase of the company's future," Farrell said in a statement.
Farrell led Calgary-based TransAlta for nine years, during which the company transitioned away from coal-fired electricity generation, before retiring in 2021.
Since then, she has served on the board of director for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Canada's largest oil and gas producer.
Recommended Reading
Powder River E&Ps Target New Zones as Oil Prices Threaten Growth
2025-05-30 - Powder River Basin E&Ps are turning to 3-mile laterals and untapped zones to improve the play’s economics. But with oil prices at $60/bbl and superior returns elsewhere, Wyoming must keep fighting for relevancy.
The US Shale Rig Count is Not Falling, Data Show
2025-07-01 - The net change in the U.S. horizontal rig count is seven rigs—1% —fewer than at year-end 2024, a Hart Energy analysis shows. Instead, the sub-$70 oil price has displaced rigs targeting non-shale targets.
EOG Secures Award to Explore Abu Dhabi for Unconventional Oil
2025-05-16 - U.S. shale giant EOG Resources will evaluate 900,000 acres in a hydrocarbon-rich basin in Abu Dhabi under a new concession agreement with ADNOC.
Blackbeard Horizontals Spark New Life in Permian’s Central Basin
2025-06-18 - Blackbeard’s treasure is buried beneath the Permian’s Central Basin Platform. While oil majors chase deeper waters, the Blackbeard crew is applying horizontal drilling to West Texas’ forgotten frontier.
Wyoming Governor: Bet on Powder River Oil to Beat Market Challenges
2025-06-12 - Wyoming’s Powder River Basin has taken a quieter role in recent years as oil producers focused on the Permian. But state leaders remain confident, betting on a rebound in oil production from the once-promising shale play, Gov. Mark Gordon said in an exclusive interview.
Comments
Add new comment
This conversation is moderated according to Hart Energy community rules. Please read the rules before joining the discussion. If you’re experiencing any technical problems, please contact our customer care team.