Enbridge eyes 'synbit' line to BC coast

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.

Feb. 22, 2005

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.