“We’re excited to achieve this major milestone towards starting construction on these two projects in Canada,” said Patrick Daniel, president and CEO of Enbridge. “The Alberta Clipper project is an important component in Enbridge’s broader expansion programme to enhance pipeline capacity to refining centres in Eastern Canada, the US Midwest and points beyond. Through the expansion of our existing pipeline system – the world’s longest crude oil pipeline system – we are able to offer our customers flexible and scalable transportation solutions that meet their needs and strengthen the energy security of North America.
“Our Southern Lights project complements this expansion by providing an innovative solution to increase the supply of diluent for blending with heavy oil produced in Alberta,” Mr Daniel added.
The Alberta Clipper project involves the construction of a new 1607-km long, 36-in diameter, crude oil pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta, to Superior, Wisconsin. Pending US regulatory approvals, the pipeline is scheduled to be in service in mid-2010, and will have an initial capacity of 450,000brl/d while allowing for expansion to increase capacity up to 800,000brl/d. The pipeline will be integrated with, and form part of, Enbridge Pipelines’ existing system in Canada and the Enbridge Energy Partners’ Lakehead system in the US. Enbridge anticipates beginning construction on the Alberta Clipper project in Canada later this summer.
Southern Lights is a proposed pipeline that will transport diluent from the US Midwest to Edmonton, Alberta. The project includes reversal of an existing Enbridge crude oil pipeline as well as new construction in Canada and the US and, when completed, the diluent pipeline will have a capacity of 180,000brl/d. Enbridge anticipates beginning construction in Canada later this summer, and the pipeline is expected to be in service in 2010.
