A pipeline business that’s ‘growing’ with the flow: 2017 Enbridge Day series (Part 1 of 3)

Enbridge’s crude oil and liquids pipeline network has size, scale, reach, and opportunity for growth

From Hardisty to Houston. From Sarnia to Superior. From Fort McMurray to Freedom Junction. From Chicago to Casper to Cushing.

It’s an energy highway that’s unparalleled in North America—and it’s still going places.

“Our world-class pipeline network is North America’s premier crude system,” said Guy Jarvis, Enbridge’s Executive Vice President and President of Liquids Pipelines, during our recent Enbridge Day 2017 Annual Investment Community Conference in New York and Toronto.

“Our size, scale and geographic reach, along with the absolute criticality of our system to producers and refiners, mean that our system is the most competitive in North America,” added Mr. Jarvis. “And we have incredible optionality to grow.”

Thanks to its rock-solid position, and future growth opportunities, Enbridge’s liquids pipelines business is one of three “crown jewel” Enbridge asset areas—and a bedrock component of our three-year strategic plan, outlined during Enbridge Day 2017.

As Mr. Jarvis pointed out, the evolution of Enbridge’s crude oil and liquids network in recent years—opening of the Flanagan South/Seaway lines; the Line 9 Reversal; the Southern Access Extension; acquisition of the Express and Platte systems, as well as an interest in the Dakota Access and Energy Transfer lines—means unparalleled market access and flexibility.



It also means financial stability with predictable returns:

  • Liquids pipelines will represent 51 percent of Enbridge’s expected EBITDA in 2018, thanks to ongoing long-term contracts and stable, established customers;
  • One of the key producing basins served by Enbridge, the Canadian oil sands, are expected to see steady growth, with independent analysts forecasting about 850,000 bpd in supply growth from 2016 through 2022; and
  • Enbridge’s Mainline network—with a current capacity of 2.85 MMbpd that’s expected to rise to 3.225 MMbpd by late 2019 with the completion of the Line 3 Replacement Program—is likely to be at maximum capacity for the foreseeable future.

    And with that established network comes multiple opportunities for low-cost, highly executable, staged expansions to match supply growth. These may include:

  • As much as 700,000 bpd expansion capability on our Mainline and Flanagan South/Seaway systems;
  • Involvement in the potential Capline reversal, connecting Patoka to the eastern Gulf Coast;
  • Expansion potential for the Express/Platte and Dakota Access lines; and
  • The proposed Gray Oak Pipeline, a potential crude solution serving the Permian basin.

“We are ready to move a lot of crude, every day,” said Mr. Jarvis, “and we expect to be doing just that—throughout the (three-year strategic) plan period, the balance of the CTS (Competitive Tolling Settlement) agreement, and beyond.”