Imperial Oil Ltd. has restarted production at its Norman Wells operations in the Northwest Territories following the return to service of Enbridge Inc.’s Line 21 pipeline. Imperial had previously resumed limited shipments of crude oil from storage in September.
The company expects production to ramp up in the months ahead to about 10,000 b/d, consistent with rates prior to the shutdown.
Norman Wells also will resume supplying Northwest Territories Power Corp. (NTPC) with electricity. The operation generates electricity for its own use, and sells surplus to NTPC, which supplies the town of Norman Wells.
In December 2016, Enbridge proactively suspended shipments on Line 21 due to slope stability concerns on one section at the Mackenzie River crossing about 10 km east of Fort Simpson. Following a lengthy regulatory process (Canada’s National Energy Board approving the project in January) replacement work started on the 2-km section of the 870-km pipeline in May and was completed in September.
The 12-in. OD pipeline, with a design capacity of 50,000 b/d, carries Norman Wells production to Zama, Alta., where it enters a third-party system for shipment to Edmonton.