By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 21 -- Enbridge Inc., Calgary, has proposed a pipeline to transport bitumen from northern Alberta to Canada's west coast for shipment by tanker to Asia and the US West Coast.
Enbridge envisions the Gateway Pipeline to be a 30-in. system that could haul 400,000 b/d from Edmonton, the western terminus of the company's existing pipeline, to either Kitimat or Prince Rupert, BC. A port capable of handling supertankers would be needed on the BC coast.
Cost is estimated at $2.5 billion for the 750-mile pipeline. Construction could start in 2008, and the line could be operating in 2009-10, Enbridge said.
The pipeline likely would transport "synbit," or raw bitumen diluted with synthetic crude oil.