Enbridge is the joint owner of the pipeline with Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Enterprise will continue to operate the pipeline system and storage facilities.

The 1,078 km Seaway Crude Pipeline System (SCPS) includes the 805 km, 30 inch diameter Freeport, Texas to Cushing, Oklahoma long-haul system, as well as the Texas City Terminal and Distribution System which serves refineries in the Houston and Texas City areas.

SCPS also includes 6.8 MMbbl of crude oil tankage on the Texas Gulf Coast and four import docks at two locations.

Enterprise and Enbridge have also announced plans to hold concurrent open seasons from 4 January 2012 through to 10 February 2012, to solicit capacity commitments from shippers for an expansion of the SCPS and an extension of the pipeline into the Port Arthur/Beaumont refining market.

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The companies recently announced plans to reverse the flow direction of the pipeline, enabling it to transport crude oil from the oversupplied hub in Cushing, Oklahoma to the US Gulf Coast.

The initial 150,000 bbl/d of capacity on the reversed system could be available by the second quarter 2012. Following pump station additions and modifications, which are expected to be completed by the first quarter 2013, capacity would increase to 400,000 bbl/d assuming a mix of light and heavy grades of crude oil.

Depending on the results of the open season, the Seaway pipeline would be looped or twinned to create additional capacity. This new loop would be built at the size and capacity required to meet shipper needs and in a location that generally follows the route of the existing Seaway pipeline.

The new 137 km pipeline that will be built from Enterprise's ECHO crude oil terminal southeast of Houston to Port Arthur, Texas will give shippers access to the region's heavy oil refining capabilities. Service is scheduled to begin in early 2014.

In addition, Enbridge has announced that it is proceeding with its Gulf Coast Access project, which will transport crude oil from Flanagan, Illinois, south to Cushing via an additional line the company will construct, and then to Houston and Port Arthur on the SCPS.