Enbridge to Boost Mainline Pipeline Capacity

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Enbridge Inc. announced plans to boost its Mainline pipeline capacity by additional 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) to make it 3.2 billion bpd. Incidentally, the pipeline system, one of the largest in entire North America, ships bulk of the crude from Canada to the U.S.

The expansion plans will be implemented only after the Trans Mountain expansion (TMX) project is operational. The TMX is projected to add 590,000 bpd of pipeline capacity to Canada’s Pacific Coast.

The government-owned TMX project has been facing significant delay in construction. The last-minute route deviation in B.C. region has delayed it further. The project was originally scheduled to become operational in Q1 next year. Once operational, TMX will significantly elevate the export capacity of western Canada region.

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Enbridge noted that the transporting capacity for crude oil on the system will be limited in the month of October this year. Accordingly, it expects 7% decline in light crude volumes and a 10% reduction in allocation of heavy crude volumes during the month.

The Mainline capacity expansion plan is in line with rising demand for oil transportation services. In addition, the company aims to support heightened oil production, thus helping it to maintain its competitive market position.