Natural gas storage facilities help to safeguard gas supplies and meet seasonal natural gas demands within the province. In summer when demand is low, natural gas is pumped into the underground storage facilities and withdrawn again in winter when demand is high. At peak times on very cold winter days, demand can be five or six times as high as on warm summer days. Underground storage of natural gas in depleted oil and gas reservoirs allows year-round supply to the province. Most natural gas storage in depleted reservoirs occurs in Lambton County, near Sarnia.
Industry Overview
Five natural gas storage companies in Ontario operate 35 natural gas storage facilities (converted former depleted natural gas production pools) with a total useable capacity of 7.3 billion cubic meters. The market value of gas in storage in Ontario in 2009 was over $2 billion.
Natural gas stored in underground storage facilities is distributed by pipeline to customers throughout southern Ontario and provides a critical component of Ontario’s energy supply. On a peak winter day, up to 58 per cent of natural gas consumed in Ontario is supplied from storage pools. Annually, approximately 25% of the natural gas consumed in Ontario is supplied from storage.
Map showing locations of active natural gas storage wells in southern Ontario
