Enbridge completing repair of oil pipeline from Canada

By the OGJ Online Staff

HOUSTON, Sept. 21 -- Enbridge Energy Partners LP said Friday it was completing repairs to a Michigan pipeline that moves 380,000 b/d of crude from Canada.

It shut down the pipeline a week ago after a routine inspection of its 30-in. Line 5 across the Straits of Mackinac found lakebed erosion had left segments of the pipe unsupported (OGJ Online, Aug. 14, 2001).

Although the repairs were delayed by bad weather, this week the company placed supports under two exposed sections of line. It was completing repairs to the third and final section Friday afternoon.

To reduce stress on the line during the repairs, the operator locked in a batch of natural gas liquids in the affected section.

The 645-mile Line 5 pipeline carries light Canadian crude and NGL between Superior, Wis., and Sarnia, Ont. Most of that flow is moved on to refineries in Sarnia.

A spokeswoman said the line feeds refineries at Sarnia, Detroit, and Toledo, but those refineries had crude storage or alternative pipeline supplies that allowed them collectively to operate within 30,000 b/d of normal runs.

However, she said Alberta producers "felt the pinch" of the shutdown.

The spokeswoman said Enbridge would make permanent repairs to the line without further shutdowns.

Enbridge Energy Partners owns the US portion of the world's longest liquid petroleum pipeline. Enbridge Inc. of Canada, through a subsidiary, owns a 14.5% interest in the US partnership.