Enbridge updates Eastern Access crude project progress

Enbridge Inc. expects to complete reversal of its Line 9A crude oil pipeline between Sarnia and North Westover, Ont., this year, said Tom Hodge, project director, expansion and replacement project, at the API Pipeline Conference in San Diego. The Line 9A reversal is part of the company’s larger Eastern Access Projects designed to transport Western Canadian crude as far east as Montreal, Que. Hodge said reversal of Line 9B between North Westover and Montreal would be complete early-2014. Enbridge expects the reversed Line 9 to carry as much as 200,000 b/d.

A 50,000 b/d expansion of Enbridge’s Line 5 between Superior, Minn., and Sarnia will be completed early this year, according to Hodge, with Line 79 between Stockbridge and Romulus, Mich., entering service this month. Hodge said replacement work on Line 6B between Griffith, Ind., and Stockbridge, Mich., would be done by yearend, with Stockbridge to the St. Clair River in Marysville, Mich., done by early 2014.

Line 79 work includes laying 35 miles of new 20-in. OD pipe and leasing 29 miles of idle Wolverine 16-in. OD pipe, as well building new metering and other facilities. The Line 6B Phase 2 replacement program follows work done last year by Enbridge to replace 75 miles of the line as part of the Line 6B 2012 Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project. The full pipeline will have replaced once Phase 2 is complete, increasing its capacity to 500,000 b/d from 240,000 b/d.

The Eastern Access projects also include expansion of the Spearhead North pipeline (Line 62) between Flanagan, Ill., and the terminal at Griffith, Ind., to 235,000 b/d from 130,000 b/d by adding horsepower. The company will also add a 330,000 bbl tank at Griffith to existing storage (OGJ Online, May 17, 2012).

Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].