Folks wishing to learn more about Enbridge’s plans to replace an existing crude oil pipeline running through Oxford and Addison townships will have two opportunities to do so next week.
Enbridge representatives will be available to answer questions on Monday, April 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center (28 N. Washington St.) downtown.
Then on Tuesday, April 15, Jason Manshum, a spokesman for the Canadian company, will address the Rotary Club of Oxford at the Oxford Hills Golf & Country Club (300 E. Drahner Rd.).
Manshum will provide a project overview beginning at 12:30 p.m. Those who wish to join the Rotarians for lunch prior to the presentation can do so for $10.
Beginning in early May, Enbridge plans to replace the final 50 miles of Line 6B with new 30-inch diameter pipeline ? the same size as the existing one ? from Ortonville to the St. Clair River in Marysville. This portion is known as Segment 8. ‘We are out there now,? said Enbridge Spokesperson Jennifer Smith. ‘We have crews preparing the right-of-way for the work.?
Line 6B is a 285-mile crude oil pipeline that begins in Griffith, Indiana, crosses southeastern Michigan and ends in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. It serves refineries in Michigan, Ohio and eastern Canada.
‘Construction of the Line 6B from Griffith, Indiana through Ortonville is complete,? Smith said.
The portion that runs through Oxford is approximately 6.5 miles in length, while Addison’s portion is about 6 miles long.
The old underground pipeline in this area will not be removed to make way for the new one. It will be left in place where it will run parallel and adjacent to the new line within the right-of-way.
Once the new line is tied in and activated, the old line will be deactivated.
Deactivation involves purging all the oil from the old line and cleaning it thoroughly to remove any remaining crude.
The old line will then be taken apart, divided into small segments, capped, filled with nitrogen and monitored.
The Line 6B project will increase the pipeline’s capacity from 240,000 to 500,000 barrels per day, according to Enbridge.