Enbridge eyeing repair of line carrying oil imports from Canada

By the OGJ Online Staff

HOUSTON, Sept. 14 -- Enbridge Energy Partners LP faces a temporary shutdown of a Michigan pipeline carrying 380,000 b/d of crude from Canada.

Most of that flow is moved on to refineries in Sarnia, Ont.

Enbridge advised shippers and customers Thursday that it plans unscheduled maintenance of its 30-in. Line 5 pipeline.

A routine inspection of Line 5 found lakebed erosion where the line crosses the Straits of Mackinac, requiring supports for the pipe.

The 645-mile Line 5 pipeline carries light Canadian crude and natural gas liquids between Superior, Wis. and Sarnia.

Enbridge Energy has informed federal regulators and Michigan public officials about the maintenance.

It was examining options to minimize the duration of a shutdown and the potential impacts on shippers and refiners.

A spokeswoman said the line supplies Sarnia refineries, but some goes to the 74,000 b/d Marathon Ashland LLC refinery at Detroit and the Sunoco Inc. refinery at Toldeo, Ohio, both of which have alternative sources of supply. A spur partly supplies the 66,700-b/d United Refining Co. plant at Warren, Pa.

The spokeswoman said Enbridge would decide Friday on the method and duration of repairs. The company will try to repair the line without a shutdown, but she said, "It's looking as if we may need a shutdown of several days."

She said divers, working from barges, will use grout bagging to support several exposed sections of line -- some up to 150 ft long -- in the 21,000 ft crossing. Water depths are up to 260 ft, requiring special diving equipment in some areas.

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.