HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE:EEP) (the "Partnership") today announced that the Phase 5 expansion of its North Dakota crude oil system was recently completed and is now in service. This project brings the system's capacity to 110,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The $78 million, 30,000 bpd project included 10 new or upgraded pump stations, additional tankage and a new 52-mile pipeline segment paralleling the existing gathering system.
A further expansion of the North Dakota system, which would add up to 51,000 bpd of capacity, is planned. This "Phase 6 expansion" would bring total system capacity from 110,000 bpd to 161,000 bpd by early 2010.
"The completed Phase 5 expansion provides much-needed capacity to move increased crude oil production from North Dakota and western Montana to attractive markets," said Brian Johnson, Enbridge North Dakota System manager. "We are now focused on further increasing system capacity and continuing to optimize our crude oil transportation services to meet the needs of refiners and regional producers."
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. owns the U.S. portion of the world's longest liquid petroleum pipeline and is active in natural gas gathering, processing and transmission. Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (NYSE:EEQ) manages the business and affairs of the Partnership and its principal asset is an approximate 15 percent interest in the Partnership.
Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, is the General Partner of Enbridge Partners and holds an approximate 15 percent interest in Enbridge Partners. Enbridge Inc. common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ENB."