Enbridge to expand pipeline system in Illinois and Indiana

In response to market demand for increased pipeline capacity, Enbridge Energy Limited Partnership is proposing to expand its pipeline system along the existing pipeline routes that have been operating in Illinois and Indiana for many years. The Line 78 pipeline project involves constructing approximately 79 miles of new crude oil pipeline from Illinois to Indiana. The Line 78 pipeline project will begin at Enbridge's Flanagan terminal near Pontiac, Illinois, and travel northeast to Enbridge’s terminal near Griffith, Indiana. The diameter of the new pipeline will be 36 in.

This project will expand Enbridge’s capacity to transport growing supplies of crude oil produced in the Williston Basin region around North Dakota and light and heavy crude production in western Canada. The transportation demand from its customers has exceeded the capacity of Enbridge’s existing Line 62 and other pipelines in the greater Chicago area to transport crude oil to the Enbridge terminal near Griffith, Indiana. From there, these supplies of crude oil will be further transported to regional refineries. The Line 78 pipeline project will allow the regional refineries more opportunities to process US and western Canadian crude oil and reduce reliance on traditional supplies that are imported from outside of North America. Enbridge’s extensive and expanding network of pipelines east of the greater Chicago area is connected directly or indirectly to refineries in northern Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, eastern Canada and Pennsylvania.

Subject to regulatory approvals, right of way clearing will begin in autumn 2014 and construction of the Line 78 pipeline will begin in the spring of 2015, with an in-service date of autumn 2015.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/05062014/enbridge_to_expand_pipeline_system_in_illinois_and_indiana_475/