Canada's pipeline regulator, the National Energy Board (NEB), has approved the flow reversal and expansion of Enbridge's Line 9B between Westover, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec; the approval is subject to fulfilment of 30 conditions, which will be reviewed by Enbridge.
Enbridge has been operating the Line 9 pipeline, an existing 762-mm diameter pipeline, with a current capacity of approximately 240,000 bbl/d. Originally flowing eastward, Line 9 was reversed in 1998 as foreign oil from areas such as West Africa and the Middle East became more affordable (Quebec’s two remaining refineries currently process 90% foreign-sourced crude). However, Western Canadian crude is now priced significantly lower than foreign oil. As a result, Enbridge filed a project application with the NEB for the section known as Line 9B in November 2012, proposing at the same time to expand the capacity of Line 9 from 240,000 bbl/d to 300,000 bbl/d.
Combined with the previously approved project to reverse Line 9A between Sarnia, Ontario and Westover, these projects will enable the delivery of reliable, competitive North American crude oil for Ontario and Quebec based refineries.
Source: Enbridge