Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. reported Monday that a pipeline on its Lakehead System leaked at approximately 9:45 a.m. CDT near the company's Marshall, Mich., pump station. Initial estimates are that approximately 19,500 barrels of crude oil may have been released as a result. The pipeline was shut down and isolation valves were closed, stopping the source of the oil.
No one was injured. Oil was released into a creek; the affected creek is a tributary of the Kalamazoo River, and Enbridge confirms that oil has entered the river. Enbridge crews, complemented by contract resources, were immediately dispatched to the site and are deploying oil skimmers and absorbent booms on the creek and river to minimize environmental impacts.
"Enbridge is treating this situation as a top priority," said Terrance McGill, President of the Partnership. "We are bringing all available resources to bear -- ranging from emergency response and containment personnel to environment and water quality specialists.
"Safety is a top priority and the Partnership will do our utmost to minimize the impact on the environment, neighboring landowners and communities. Enbridge's environmental response team is working closely with local agencies and all emergency officials to complete the clean up as quickly as possible."
Enbridge has notified and is working with the appropriate regulators and emergency officials. The cause of the release has not been determined and is being investigated.
At this time, Enbridge does not have an estimated time for restart of the line.
Line 6B is a 30-inch, 190,000 bpd line transporting light synthetics, heavy and medium crude oil from Griffith, Indiana to Sarnia, Ontario. It is part of the Partnership's Lakehead System.
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. owns and operates a diversified portfolio of crude oil and natural gas transportation systems in the United States, including the Enbridge North Dakota System. Its principal crude oil system is the largest transporter of growing oil production from western Canada. The system's deliveries to refining centers and connected carriers in the United States account for approximately 12 percent of total U.S. oil imports; while deliveries to Ontario, Canada satisfy approximately 60 percent of refinery demand in that region. EEP's natural gas gathering, treating, processing and transmission assets, which are principally located onshore in the active U.S. Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast area, deliver approximately 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily.
Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. manages the business and affairs of EEP and its sole asset is an approximate 14 percent interest in EEP. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, is the general partner and holds an approximate 27 percent interest in EEP.
