March 28, 2013 [Seeking Alpha] - Enbridge Rail (North Dakota) LLC, an affiliate of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (EEP) and Phillips 66 have agreed to a three-year deal for unit train loading of Bakken shale crude oil at the Enbridge Berthold, North Dakota, terminal beginning in May 2013.
Volumes will ramp up to 35,000 to 40,000 barrels per day (BPD) by November 2013. The Enbridge Berthold Rail Project integrates the Partnership’s North Dakota Pipeline System with an 80,000 BPD rail facility.
The Berthold facility can accommodate up to three unit trains at any given time and is located adjacent to the Enbridge North Dakota Storage facilities, which have an ultimate capacity of 2.2 million barrels of contract storage.
“Our Berthold Rail Project complements a series of expansions the Partnership has undertaken to expand take-away capacity from North Dakota. It integrates a near-term transportation option for high-quality Bakken crude into Enbridge and the Partnership’s expanding portfolio of pipeline projects that access premium markets across the United States, including Enbridge affiliate, Enbridge Rail (Philadelphia) L.L.C.’s joint venture rail project near Philadelphia,” said Mark Maki, President of the Partnership.
“Importantly, it allows producers and shippers the ability to continue to grow their business while we develop the next phase of pipeline expansions on the Enbridge North Dakota System.”
According to Phillips 66, the Bakken crude oil loaded on these unit trains through the Enbridge Berthold facility will be transported to Phillips 66 refineries on the West and East Coasts.