Alberta Clipper (also known as Enbridge's Line 67) is an oil pipeline in North America. It is owned and operated by Enbridge and is part of the extensive Enbridge Pipeline System. The pipeline runs from Hardisty, Alberta, in Canada, to Superior, Wisconsin, in the United States, integrating the company's Canadian oil sands pipeline system with the Lakehead system in the United States.[1]
Construction on the pipeline began in summer 2008.[1] Engineering for the Canadian portion was carried out by WorleyParsons. The majority of pipeline was built by the consortium of Michels Corporation, Precision Pipeline and US Pipeline, while Willbros Group built the portion between Sherwood Park and Hardisty, and the joint venture of Robert B Somerville and Techint Canada built three sections of the pipeline.
The pipeline was placed into service on April 1, 2010. The first shipment was moved in October 2010.[2]
The initial capacity of the 1,607-kilometre (999 mi) pipeline is 450,000 barrels per day (72,000 m3/d) which after expansion may be increased up to 800,000 barrels per day (130,000 m3/d).[3] It has pump stations at Hardisty, Alberta, Kerrobert, Milden, Cromer, Glenboro, Gretna, Viking, Minnesota, Clearbrook, and Deer River.[2] The diameter of the pipe is 36 inches (910 mm).[1] The pipeline cost US$3.3 billion.[2][4]
In 2013, Enbridge applied for the expansion project. At the first stage completion in 2014, the capacity increased up to 570,000 barrels per day (91,000 m3/d) and at the second stage completed in 2015, the capacity increased up to 880,000 barrels per day (140,000 m3/d).[5] According to Enbridge, Line 67 Upgrade Project Phase 2 was completed, and entered into service in July 2015.[6] As the United States presidential permit was still pending, oil was pumped before the Canada–US border into the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline and after the border crossing back to the Alberta Clipper.[7]