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Project Overview 

Stage 1 of the Southern Access Project involved the construction of 321 miles of new pipe within the existing Enbridge pipeline easement between Superior and Enbridge's Delavan pumping station near Whitewater, Wis., and new pump stations in Wisconsin and Illinois. 

Stage 2 became operation in early 2009, when demand and growing supply from western Canada warrants further expansion, with the planned extension to Patoka, Ill., to come on stream in the same year. 

The Southern Access Extension to Patoka is a proposed project to meet demand of refineries south of Chicago as their demand for and ability to process heavy crude oil increases. 

      

Southern Access
Expansion
 
Southern Access Extension 
Distance:  454 miles of new pipeline  170 miles of new pipeline 
Origin:  Superior, Wis.    Flanagan, Ill. 
End point:  Flanagan, Ill.  Patoka, Ill. 
Pipe diameter:  42 inches    36 inches 
Capacity: 

Increases system capacity by 400,000 bpd; expandable to 1.2 million bpd with additional pump stations  

400,000 bpd; expandable to 800,000 bpd with additional pump stations                         

Capital cost:  $2.1 billion (As spent, U.S. dollars)  $0.5 billion (As spent, U.S. dollars) 
Timeline:  Superior to Delavan:  Delavan to Flanagan:   

Construction 

2006-07  

2008  

TBD

Operation 

2008

2009 

TBD























 

 

 

 

Program Benefits 

  • Increased pipeline supply capacity at the right time to transport additional supplies of crude petroleum produced in Alberta 's oil sands as production ramps up and as refinery demand for Canadian heavy crude petroleum increases. 
  • Increased supply flexibility in the Great Lakes area and beyond, benefiting regional refineries and consumers during tight supply situations. 
  • New capital investment in America's energy infrastructure to help meet the energy needs of this and future generations. 
  • Employment for construction professionals and new business for contractors hired to assist in the design, survey, environmental assessment and project planning process. 
  • Local economic stimulus through the purchase of products and services from local retailers and housing and food for pipeline professionals and contractor employees during the construction process. 
  •  Additional employment and economic activity during future pipeline operations. 

Click here for information about Enbridge’s Lakehead System. 

  Segment  In service  Incremental capacity (bpd)  Facilities 
 Expansion  Upstream of Superior  1 Qtr 2008     Pump station upgrades 
Upstream of Superior  1 Qtr 2009     Pump station upgrades  
Downstream of Superior-Stage 1  1 Qtr 2008  Up to 148,000  312 miles 42" pipeline from Superior to Delavan 
Downstream of Superior-Stage 2  1 Qtr 2009  400,000   133 miles 42" pipeline from Delavan to Flanagan, use of Spearhead to Chicago 
 Extension   Extension to Patoka  TBD 400,000  36" pipeline extension and associated pumping facilities 
All specifications and estimates are as of July 25, 2006.