Area officials tour Enbridge’s Clearbrook Terminal
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Representative Steve Green, three Clearwater County Commissioners (Dan Stenseng, Neal Illies, John Nelson) and Clearbrook Mayor George Postier toured the Enbridge Clearbrook Terminal and the newly-completed Line 67 pump station to get a better understanding of the operation and to ask questions of company officials.
The tour, led by Bemidji Operations Manager John Pechin, Terminal Team Lead Dale Bergquist, Line 67 Engineering Supervisor Bob Lisi, and Public Affairs members Patrick Hughley and Jen Maleitzke, included stops at the control center, the meter proving facility, pig (smart tool for checking the integrity of the lines) launcher/receiver traps, Line 2b hydro-test operations, Line 67 pump station and booster pumps and the pig-washing station.
The group had a good dialogue on many topics, including the proposed Sandpiper pipeline project, the number of staff employed at the Clearbrook Terminal (17 full-time Enbridge employees, plus numerous on-site contractors) and the capacity that travels daily through the Terminal. Hughley noted that Enbridge provides nearly 85 percent of Minnesota’s refining capacity through connections from the Clearbrook Terminal to the Minnesota Pipeline System.
Rep. Green asked how Enbridge shuts down a pipe if there is a leak. Enbridge staff responded that the entire pipeline is shut down immediately if the control center sees a pressure loss, the line is isolated in segments and personnel are sent to inspect the pipeline.
After learning Line 67 is now moving its full permitted capacity of 800,000 barrels per day, the group discussed the important role Clearwater County plays in providing energy security to Minnesota and the U.S., and impact of the operations for the country’s energy independence.
Commissioner Illies said "I am very impressed at the measures that Enbridge takes to assure that the oil moves safely through the lines and for the safety of their employees. The fact of hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil being transferred every day through these lines speaks volumes of Enbridge’s commitment to safety".
Commissioner Nelson stated "the pipeline is an asset to our community, I greatly appreciated the tour and found it to be very informative".
Commissioner Stenseng said "We, in Minnesota have no coal, natural gas or oil and are completely dependent on other sources for our energy. It is so interesting to know that about 10% of the oil consumed each day in America is pumped thru the Enbridge station here in Clearbrook and that about 85% of the oil consumed in Minnesota is delivered by Enbridge to the Minnesota Pipeline System that begins here in Clearbrook. The importance of these facilities cannot not be over stated".