The North American energy infrastructure company TransCanada has secured several contracts for the 830,000 bbl/d Keystone XL crude oil pipeline project. Around 500,000 bbl/d have been secured through firm 20-year commitments during the project's Open Season. However, the project is still facing legal hurdles. The construction preparatory works have already started and if the permitting processes advance well throughout 2018, the proper construction could start in 2019.
The pipeline will stretch over a 1,897 km (1,179 miles) route but has been repeatedly delayed by the previous US Government. The project was approved by the US Senate and the House of Representatives in 2015, but was finally vetoed by President Obama. Later on, TransCanada initiated a claim under Chapter 11 of NAFTA, seeking to recover more than US$15bn in costs and damages. The project was approved by the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) in November 2017.