Enbridge Inc. will restart the east segment of its Line 5 liquids pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac after receiving authorization from the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and approval from the Michigan Circuit Court. Following a review of data from an in-line inspection of the east segment in the area around the damaged screw anchor, PHMSA told Enbridge in a letter that "the review by PHMSA and its independent third-party expert did not identify any integrity issues.”
The pipeline runs 645 miles through Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, starting in Superior, Wisc., and ending in Sarnia, Ont. As it travels the 4.5 miles under the Straits of Mackinac, the 30-in. OD Line 5 splits into two 20-in. OD parallel pipelines.
Line 5 has served Michiganders without incident at the Straits crossing for more than 65 years, the company said. The west segment returned to operation in July (OGJ Online, July 1, 2020).
The pipeline moves as much as 540,000 b/d of light crude oil and NGL.
