Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 06/99) - Three major resource companies are proposing to jointly build a natural gas pipeline through the Franklin Mountains, just north of Fort Liard.

"It makes a lot more sense to develop a pipeline as a group," Chevron spokesperson Charlie Stewart said.

Stewart, Chevron's communications and external affairs manager, was among Chevron and other resource company officials in Fort Liard last week, for a three-day open house on the project.

The proposed natural gas pipeline and three well-sites will cost about $52 million to build, according to Brent Naherny, an engineer with Chevron who is the pipeline's project manager.

The project would bring sour natural gas -- sour gas contains other compounds which must be removed -- from Chevron's K-29 well, Ranger Oil's P-66 well and Canadian Forest Oil's N-61 natural gas sites, to the existing Westcoast Pipeline. Chevron's M-25 well could also be tied in to the line. The Westcoast Pipeline carries natural gas south from Amoco's operating natural gas well at Pointed Mountain.

The K-29 discovery, with 12 billion to 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas, is considered among the richest in Western Canada. The P-66 discovery holds an estimated six billion cubic metres of natural gas. Forest Oil has finished drilling at its N-61 well but reserve numbers have not been released.

The proposed 30-40 centimetre underground pipeline would parallel the Franklin Mountains, part of the Liard Range, then swing west north of Fisherman's Lake to Amoco's Pointed Mountain plant. This line would run about 50 kilometres. The proposed Canadian Forest pipeline would stretch about 17 kilometres north from the Amoco plant.

It has only taken about 18 months for the project to go from seismic work to a development plan, Naherny said.

The plan went to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (set up under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act) earlier this year and companies are now waiting for feedback from the board and communities of Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake and Fort Simpson. The board could make a decision as early as December.

Permits to build and operate the pipeline would come from the National Energy Board. The plan is to complete the building of the pipeline by the end of March.

Despite the lack of permits, Chevron has already committed to buy $3.5 million worth of 35-centimetre steel pipe from a Japanese company.

As for community benefits, Stewart said at peak development, 300 jobs will be generated but the vast majority will only be during construction.

After the pipeline is built, there will only be a handful of people operating the three well-site dehydration facilities.

Melanie Timber, who was with a group of students that came out to learn about the proposed pipeline, expressed concern about what happens to the people after the pipeline is built -- after the jobs are gone. She said it means people will be left with nothing.

But Stewart said people will have learned skills, skills they could use in other parts of the NWT as the oil and gas industry expands.

Stewart also said there has already been consultation with community members about the proposed pipeline.

"We've already moved the pipeline (route), plan three or four times based on community suggestions," Stewart said.

"We've altered the route based on community suggestions and community input and environmental sensitivities."

Stewart said elders were flown over the area to "find out what areas to avoid."

Included in the plan is a restricted development zone around Fisherman's Lake. The 12-kilometre lake is home to trout, pike, mariah, whitefish and pickerel.

But Rose Betthale Reid said just because a company consults with Fort Laird's chief and council, it does not mean everyone in the community knows about the work that is going on.

She suggested Chevron fund an interpreter so Dene, who only speak Slavey, can learn more about the project.

Among the elders who spoke Tuesday was William Betthale. Betthale, who now lives in northern B.C., said he was not aware of the road which had been built.

Speaking through an interpreter, Betthale said, "I'm glad people are telling us about the plan."

"I'm not saying I'm against it."

After the meeting, Betthale told News/North the seismic lines, small paths cut through the bush, make for good traplines.

As for development in general, Betthale, again, speaking through an interpreter, said, "I don't care much for logging."