Watching Government: Enbridge Line 3 project advances

Enbridge Inc. handily met its goal of getting the Canadian portion of its Line 3 crude oil replacement pipeline in service during December 2019 when it began operations there on the month’s first day.

“Line fill of the 665-mile Canadian segment was completed in mid-November and connects to the existing US Line 3 at the Manitoba-US border. It is moving oil now,” an Enbridge spokesman told OGJ on Dec. 2.

But the Calgary oil and gas transmission company still must secure permits from the Minnesota Public Service Commission for the 333 miles of new 36-in. diameter pipeline it wants to build in that state to replace an existing 282-mile, 34-in. diameter segment. The proposed system would terminate at an existing Enbridge terminal near Superior, Wis.

The new pipeline will run at approximately half of its rated 760,000 b/d capacity, some 400,000 b/d, until the Minnesota portion receives final approval, is constructed, and goes onstream, Enbridge’s spokesman pointed out.

Minnesota’s PSC said that the route proposed by Enbridge Energy LP would generally follow the existing Line 3 along the Enbridge Mainline System right-of-way from the North Dakota-Minnesota border in Kittson County to Enbridge’s existing terminal facility in Clearbrook, Minn.

From there, the pipeline would proceed south and generally follow the existing Minnesota Pipe Line Co.’s right-of-way to Hubbard, Minn.

Enbridge’s applications indicate the project’s purpose is to: (1) address known integrity risks, (2) reduce apportionment due to decreased transport capacity related to integrity issues, and (3) restore flexibility to the Enbridge Mainline System for more efficient operation. The new pipeline would serve the same markets and transport the same products as the existing Line 3 pipeline.

“This is an important milestone for our province. Along with other enhancements to the Enbridge Mainline system, Line 3 will increase Alberta’s takeaway capacity by about 100,000 b/d,” observed Sonya Savage, the Canadian province’s energy minister.

Much more is needed 

“This pipeline replacement checks a lot of boxes: It enhances safety, has created thousands of jobs on both sides of the border, and will continue to provide critical tax revenues over its lifespan in both Canada and the US. But we still need more – much more,” she said.

Savage said that Alberta will continue to fight for market access, “but in the meantime, we need to find ways to maximize and optimize our existing pipelines.

“These kinds of capacity increases are extremely important as they will deliver more of Alberta’s energy to market while major projects – such as Trans Mountain, Keystone XL and the remainder of Line 3 in the US – are still in development,” she noted.