Enbridge Line 61 Oil Pipeline
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Enbridge Line 61 Oil Pipeline is a crude oil pipeline in the USA. It is part of the Enbridge Mainline System.[1]
Location
The pipeline runs from Enbridge’s Superior Terminal in Superior, Wisconsin, to Enbridge’s Flanagan Terminal near Pontiac, Illinois.[2][3]
Project details
- Operator:
- Owner: Enbridge[4]
- Parent company: Enbridge[4]
- Capacity: 400,000 barrels per day (as of 2012)[5]
- As of 2022, capacity (including all expansions) is 1.2 million barrels per day[6]
- Length: 462 miles[4]
- Diameter: 42 inches[4]
- Status: Operating[4]
- Start year: 2009
Background
Line 61 is a 42-inch oil sands pipeline that runs from Enbridge’s terminal in Superior, Wisconsin, to its Flanagan Terminal near Pontiac, Illinois.[2] The pipeline began operating in 2009.[6]
According to Enbridge’s Energy Infrastructure Assets report, the pipeline had an average annual capacity of 996,000 barrels per day during June 2020.[2]
Expansion projects
In December 2012, Enbridge announced Line 61 (Southern Access Project), a series of plans to increase the pipelines original capacity from 400,000 barrels per day up to 560,000 barrels per day, and ultimately 1.2 million barrels per day.[5] The increased capacity will come from additional pumps along Line 61, not new pipeline construction.
Southern Access Project Expansion 1
- Operator:
- Owner: Enbridge[4]
- Parent company: Enbridge[4]
- Capacity: 160,000 barrels per day[7]
- Length: 0 new miles of pipeline[7]
- Status: Operating[7]
- Start year: 2014[7]
By increasing the pumps' horsepower, the expansion resulted in a capacity increase of 160,000 barrels per day, from 400,000 barrels per day to 560,000 barrels per day.[7]
Southern Access Project Expansion 2
- Operator:
- Owner: Enbridge[4]
- Parent company: Enbridge[4]
- Capacity: 240,000 barrels per day[7]
- Length: 0 new miles of pipeline[7]
- Status: Operating[7]
- Start year: 2015[7]
Construction for Phase 2 began in spring 2014 and was anticipated to be complete by the end of 2016.[8] The expansion was reported as completed by 2017. Enbridge had previously suggested that it might further expand the pipeline or building a twin pipeline ("Line 61 Twin"), now known as Enbridge Line 66 Oil Pipeline.[6]
As of April 2017, Line 61 was running at 75% full capacity (900,000 barrels per day of the 1,200,000 barrels per day capacity) and Enbridge said it is not currently planning an expansion.[6]
Southern Access Project Expansion 3
- Operator:
- Owner: Enbridge[4]
- Parent company: Enbridge[4]
- Capacity: 150,000 barrels per day[7]
- Length: 0 new miles of pipeline[7]
- Status: Operating[7]
- Start year: 2015[7]
Southern Access Project Expansion 4
- Operator:
- Owner: Enbridge[4]
- Parent company: Enbridge[4]
- Capacity: 250,000 barrels per day[7]
- Length: 0 new miles of pipeline[7]
- Status: Operating[7]
- Start year: 2021[7]
The upgrade will result in a capacity increase from 950,000 bpd to 1,200,000 bpd by expanding the pipeline's pump stations. The project does not involve laying any new miles of pipeline. Enbridge plans for the full expansion to be completed in the second half of 2020, following the completion of the Enbridge Line 3 Oil Pipeline.[7]
According t the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the project was completed in the fourth quarter of 2021.[9]
Southern Access Pipeline Extension
The extension goes from Flanagan, Illinois to a petroleum terminal hub near Patoka, Illinois.[7][10]
- Capacity: 300,000 barrels per day[7]
- Length: 167 miles[7]
- Diameter: 24 inches[7]
- Status: Operating[7]
- Start year: 2015[7]
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ Enbridge Pipeline System, Wikipedia, accessed September 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Enbridge’s Energy Infrastructure Assets Enbrdige, July 22, 2020
- ↑ National Energy and Petrochemical Map , FracTracker, February 28, 2020
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 Enbridge’s Energy Infrastructure Assets Enbrdige, July 22, 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lisa Song, "Map: Another Major Tar Sands Pipeline Seeking U.S. Permit," Inside Climate News, June 3, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Neil Johnson, "Enbridge says it has no plans for a new Wisconsin pipeline," Gazette Xtra, April 28, 2017
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 Petroleum & Other Liquids, Movements, Energy Information Administration, June 4, 2020
- ↑ "Line 61 Upgrade Project (Phase 2)," Enbridge website, accessed September 2017
- ↑ U.S. liquids pipeline projects, Energy Information Administration, June 7, 2021
- ↑ The Growing Web of Oil and Gas Pipelines FracTracker, February 28, 2019
