Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
On Sept. 12, 2012, Enbridge was building its Bakken Expansion Project, now Line 26. That project would have figured heavily into its second phase of its Mainline Optimization Project, now on indefinite hold. This photo was east of Redvers. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
CALGARY – Over the past several months, there seems to have been a never-ending stream of export pipeline announcements, a half-million barrels here, a million there, all leading up to the inevitable question – will there be enough oil production to fill these new pipelines? And if not, when are we going to reach the limit of committed barrels?
That question was answered, for now, when Enbridge put out its first half financials on July 31. The 500,000 bpd Phase 2 of its Mainline Optimization Project, which heavily involved southeast Saskatchewan, has been “put on indefinite hold.”
That’s according to Enbridge spokesperson Gina Sutherland, in speaking to Pipeline Online on that date.
Enbridge released the following statement by email:
As part of our broader resequencing of Mainline Optimization Phase 2 opportunities, the Line 26 Optimization project is currently on hold as we prioritize an expansion on our downstream pipelines that run Chicago south to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
As our customers work with governments to finalize fiscal, regulatory and emissions frameworks, which in turn will help frame their long-term development plans, we expect MLO2 and our broader opportunity set to evolve to meet industry needs.
In the near term, we are focused on advancing expansions of Flanagan South and Southern Extension as the next phase of growth across our Mainline and Market Access system.
As we’ve been advocating, the policy environment needs to change to give producers confidence to invest in growth. We are optimistic with some of the changes proposed so far, however, we await the implementation of these measures. This will take some time.
We remain confident in the long-term need for incremental Mainline capacity, with future expansions needed for years to come.
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One of many projects
The half-million barrel per day project was facing competition from several other projects now in the works, each of which are rehashes of previous projects. The 550,000 bpd Bridger Pipeline Expansion would take parts of the Keystone XL project, already built and in the ground in Alberta, complete it through Saskatchewan, then take a turn south to a new destination at Guernsey, Wyoming instead of the KXL planned terminus of Steele City, Nebraska (near Cushing, Oklahoma). A presidential permit was granted by President Trump for this project on April 30. The permit noted it was for a 36 inch pipeline.
Then there’s the West Coast Pipeline, which would be another expansion of the Trans Mountain system, adding a third pipeline to that system. It would largely, but not entirely, follow the route of the recent Trans Mountain Expansion. This project is slated for a million barrels per day. It was announced in early July.
A few days after than, a heavily modified redux of the Energy East Pipeline project was also announced. The Northern Shield Energy Corridor would parallel the Enbridge Mainline from Hardisty to Regina, then the TC Energy Mainline from Regina to Eastern Ontario, eventually new right-of-way hooking around the Great Lakes to Sarnia, its ultimate destination. This half million barrel per day proposed pipeline, if built, would free up Ontario’s dependence on Enbridge’s Line 5, which has been under considerable pressure from the State of Michigan to be shut down before any possibility its crossing of the Straits of Mackinac could be damaged and result in a spill into Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.
If you’ve been adding so far, those three projects would add just over two million barrels per day of takeaway capacity, almost all of which would be for increased Alberta oil production. Northwest Saskatchewan could potentially send oil into either the Bridger or Northern Sheild projects, as much of northwest Saskatchewan’s oil production finds its way into the Hardisty terminal, kickoff for both of those projects.
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The fourth project – Enbridge’s Phase 2 of its Mainline Optimization project, would have added another half million barrels per day of capacity. And that one would have dramatically impacted the flow of oil in southeast Saskatchewan, as well as add potential takeaway barrels for all Saskatchewan production. The project quietly received approval from President Donald Trump on April 15 for the necessary presidential permit needed for the project.
The permit said, “Permission is hereby granted to the permittee to construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline Border facilities, as described herein, at the international border of the United States and Canada near Portal, North Dakota, for the transport between the United States and Canada of crude oil and petroleum products of every description, refined or unrefined (inclusive of, but not limited to, naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas liquids, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel), but not including natural gas subject to section 3 of the Natural Gas Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 717b).”
And
“The term “Border facilities” as used in this permit means those parts of the Facilities consisting of a 24-inch diameter pipeline extending from the international border between the United States and Canada near Portal, North Dakota, to and including the first mainline shut-off valve or pumping station in the United States located less than 1 mile from the international border, and any land, structures, installations, or equipment appurtenant thereto.”
Indeed, for several months Pipeline Online has been working on a major story detailing the implications of this project, should it go ahead. That story is still coming, but these major developments will require major revisions.
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The key portion of Phase 2 was referred to as the Line 26 Optimization. The project had been listed on Enbridge’s major projects portion of its webpage, but it was removed from the website on July 31.
Line 26 under construction near Cromer, Manitoba, on Sept. 12, 2012. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
When it was built in 2012, Enbridge referred to it as the “Bakken Expansion Project,” which Pipeline News covered extensively. The pipeline was built to allow some North Dakota oil production, which was mostly being shipped by rail at the time, to go north into Saskatchewan, and then into Manitoba where it joined the Enbridge Mainline system heading southeast to Superior, Wisconsin. Now referred to as Line 26, it is currently a 12-to-16-inch-diameter crude oil pipeline, originating at Berthold, ND, and terminating at Cromer, MB.
- Nature of asset: Crude oil pipeline
- Status: Operational
- Length: 162 miles (261 km)
- Average annual capacity: 145,000 barrels per day
- Products transported: Light crude
Enbridge
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This is what it Enbridge’s website said in May, when Pipeline Online copied the page:
Enbridge is proposing work to optimize its Line 26 pipeline. Known as the Line 26 Optimization Project, this work would enhance operation of the pipeline and create a new connection into an Energy Transfer (ET) facility, allowing access to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
This work could improve energy security and help ensure stable energy prices for consumers.
This project would enhance the operation and transportation capabilities of the Line 26 pipeline by making the following changes:
Flow Direction
The Project would reverse the flow of product in the Line 26 pipeline, resulting in a north-to-south flow direction.
Additional Pipeline Connectivity
To connect Line 26 pipeline to ET, Enbridge would use parts of the existing Line 26 pipeline, along with the addition of a new pipe. This would involve Enbridge:
- Continuing to operate the existing 16-inch pipeline from the Cromer Terminal in Manitoba (MB) to the Steelman pump station in Saskatchewan (SK).
- Constructing a new 24-inch pipeline segment to replace the existing 12-inch pipeline starting at the Steelman pump station. This new 24-inch pipeline segment would cross the Canada/U.S. border and be constructed along an optimized route to connect to the ET Ramberg Terminal in North Dakota (ND). It would be approximately 128 kilometers (80 miles) in length of which approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) would be in SK and approximately 96 kilometers (60 miles) would be in ND.
- Decommissioning or deactivating the existing 12-inch pipeline from the Steelman Station to approximately 800 meters (0.5 miles) south of the Canada/U.S. border and abandoning the remaining 12-inch pipeline to the Berthold Terminal in ND.
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Pump Station Modifications
In conjunction with the Project’s pipeline optimization work, new pump stations would be required along with modifications to existing pump stations. This work would include:
- A new initiating pump station located within Enbridge’s existing Cromer Terminal in MB
- A new midpoint pump station located near Alida, SK
- Equipment modifications at Enbridge’s existing Steelman pump station in SK
The construction of Line 26 saw extensive use of boring, like seen here. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
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Line 26 Potential Routing
The route of the new segment of the Line 26 pipeline is still being determined, and Enbridge is interested in working with landowners, communities, Tribal Nations, First Nations and Métis governments to assess the best potential route for this pipeline.
In Canada, routing is expected to follow the existing Line 26 pipeline to minimize disruptions to landowners, area residents, and the environment. This section of pipe is anticipated to be approximately 32 kilometers (~20 miles) in length.
In the U.S., the new segment of pipe is expected to follow the existing Line 26 pipeline up to a new valve on the south side of the Canada/U.S. border, at which point a new optimized route would be used to connect directly to the ET Ramberg Terminal in ND. This section of pipe is anticipated to be about 60 miles (~95 km) in length.
Preliminary project timeline
First half of 2026
- In-person discussions and public engagement events begin with landowners, communities, Tribal Nations, First Nations and Métis governments, as well as other interested stakeholders
- Environmental and geotechnical field studies begin
Mid-2026
- Enbridge makes a decision whether to proceed with the project
Second half of 2026
- Required regulatory applications begin to be filed (pending a decision to proceed with the project)
- Project discussions with landowners, residents, local government, communities, and Indigenous groups continue
2027 and 2028
-
Pipeline construction, and construction at Enbridge facilities, expected to begin
-
Targeted project in-service date late 2028
So as of July 31, this project is on indefinite hold. However, clearly enough work has been done on it that there’s a real possibility it could be revived at a later date. Watch for the future Pipeline Online story analyzing the profound implications it could have on Saskatchewan oil production, should that come to pass. If it does, it would be the largest change in marketing of Saskatchewan oil production since we started producing oil in quantity.
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