Enbridge to proceed with Woodland Oil Pipeline Extension Project

Late last week Enbridge Inc. announced that it is proceeding with the construction of the Woodland Pipeline Extension Project. The project will extend the Woodland Pipeline south from Enbridge's Cheecham Terminal to its Edmonton Terminal to connect up with refineries and export pipelines in the Edmonton area. The project has an estimated cost of Cdn$ 1.3 billion, of which 50% is Enbridge's capital contribution, and a planned in service date in Q3, 2015.

Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil

The Woodland Pipeline Extension is being constructed to serve the Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil Kearl oilsands project and its recently announced expansion. Enbridge brought into service the Woodland Pipeline between the Kearl oilsands project and the Enbridge Cheecham terminal in the Autumn of 2012.

The 385 km (228 mile), 36 in. (914 mm) Woodland Pipeline Extension will have an initial capacity of 400 000 bpd, with the ability to be expanded to approximately 800 000 bpd dependent upon crude viscosity. The majority of the proposed route of the Woodland Pipeline Extension follows existing Enbridge right-of-way and will be in a shared corridor with the Waupisoo Pipeline. The project will include new pump stations at the existing Roundhill Station location and at the Cheecham Terminal. Enbridge received regulatory approval for the project from the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) in August 2012.

More crude oil transportation capacity for Edmonton

"Enbridge is pleased to further its investment in the Woodland pipeline system to serve the production growth from the Kearl oilsands project," said Stephen J. Wuori, President, Liquids Pipelines and Major Projects. "Extension of the Woodland Pipeline will bring additional crude oil transportation capacity into the Edmonton area, enabling us to accommodate forecasted regional oilsands production growth from the Kearl project and other oilsands projects targeted for delivery into the Edmonton hub.

"The Woodland Pipeline Extension Project is an example of how Enbridge is able to utilise existing infrastructure and rights-of-way wherever possible to minimise our footprint and our impact to communities, stakeholders and the environment," added Mr. Wuori. "We place the highest priority on the safety and operational reliability of our energy infrastructure at all stages of design, construction and operations."

Increasing requirements from Alberta oilsands producers

With the Woodland Pipeline Extension Project, Enbridge is constructing infrastructure projects valued at more than Cdn$ 4.3 billion to service the increasing requirements of the Alberta oilsands producers. These projects are forecasted to come into service between 2013 and 2015.

Adapted from press release by Cecilia Rehn

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/29072013/enbridge_to_proceed_with_woodland_oil_pipeline_extension_project/