BISMARCK - Gov. John Hoeven joined officials of Enbridge Pipelines Thursday for a ceremonial commencement of their Phase 6 pipeline expansion in northwestern North Dakota. The ceremonial "valve turning" in Minot signaled a doubling of the company's 2007 pipeline capacity, from about 80,000 barrels a day to more than 161,000 barrels a day.
The project involved upgrading 13 pump stations along the pipeline route from western North Dakota to Clearbrook, Minn. The total cost for the expansion was approximately $145 million.
As a result of expansions by Enbridge and other companies, North Dakota pipeline capacity now exceeds production in the state. Hoeven said the state will continue to work toward increasing capacity because that will continue to drive increased production.
Hoeven and state officials are also working with Enbridge on other pipeline projects.
Previously, Enbridge shipped crude oil south from Steelman, Sask., to Berthold. The company is now considering a proposal to add pumps to reverse the pipeline so that North Dakota producers could ship product into a pipeline that ships crude to refineries in the United States. In addition, Enbridge is evaluating the feasibility of a number of smaller pipeline gathering projects in North Dakota designed to provide state shippers with additional access into the system.
The company has said if it determines there is enough interest and economic viability to proceed with all or some of the proposed projects, it will begin the formal process this spring. If all agreements and government permitting can be secured this year, construction could begin in 2010.