石油设备网讯 据管道新闻网加利福尼亚州卡尔加里3月27日消息称该公司周三表示，明尼苏达州一家监管机构已证实批准Enbridge公司的3号线原油管道更换计划，该公司周三表示，这将使该耗资70亿美元、将更多原油运往加拿大西部的项目得以推进。
明尼苏达州公共事业委员会最初在6月批准了Enbridge的计划，重建老化的1031英里(1660公里)管道，这条管道从阿尔伯塔省通往美国威斯康星州，但该决定在2月遭到明尼苏达州州长的质疑。
Enbridge在一份声明中说:“PUC确认其决定批准L3R(3号原油管道线替换)需求证书上的条件——这些条件意味着保护明尼苏达州——允许这个关键的能源基础设施现代化项目向前推进。”
这一决定为输油管道扫清了障碍，对因原油产量增加而出口管道拥堵的加拿大石油生产商来说是个好消息。去年加拿大重质原油与美国原油的贴水扩大至创纪录水平，促使艾伯塔省政府实施减产，以减少原油库存，并帮助支撑油价。
本月早些时候，艾伯塔省石油和天然气行业遭受打击，3号线遇到了一个障碍。当时，Enbridge表示，由于项目等待州政府和联邦政府的批准，3号线的更换将推迟近一年，直到2020年下半年。
Wood Mackenzie分析师Mark Oberstoetter称:" (PUC的决定)无疑对Enbridge是个好消息，但他们仍面临当地许可发放被推迟的问题。"
Enbridge在声明中表示，希望剩余的许可计划能保持在正轨上。
3号原油管道线于1968年开始运营，目前的运营能力只有原来的一半。它的更换将使其恢复核定的日产量76万桶。
曹海斌 摘译自 管道新闻网
原文如下：
Minnesota Regulator Confirms Approval of Enbridge Pipeline
A Minnesota regulator has confirmed its approval of Enbridge Inc's Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement, allowing the $7 billion project that will ship more barrels out of western Canada to move forward, the company said on Wednesday.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission initially approved Enbridge's plan to rebuild the aging 1,031-mile (1,660-km) pipeline that runs from Alberta to the U.S. state of Wisconsin in June, but that decision was challenged by Minnesota's governor in February.
"The PUC confirmed its decision to approve the conditions placed on L3R’s (Line 3 Replacement) Certificate of Need – conditions meant to protect Minnesotans – allowing this critical energy infrastructure modernization project to move forward," Enbridge said in a statement.
The decision clears a hurdle for the pipeline and is welcome news for Canadian oil producers struggling with congestion on export pipelines as crude production increases. The discount last year on Canadian heavy crude versus U.S. barrels widened to record levels, prompting the Alberta government to impose production curtailments to draw down crude storage inventories and help shore up prices.
In a blow to Alberta's oil and gas sector, Line 3 hit a snag earlier this month when Enbridge said its replacement will be delayed by almost a year until the second half of 2020 while the project awaits state and federal permits.
"It (the PUC decision) is good news for Enbridge undoubtedly, but they still have the issue of local permits that are delayed," Wood Mackenzie analyst Mark Oberstoetter said.
In its statement, Enbridge said it is hopeful the remaining permitting schedule stays on track.
Line 3, which began service in 1968, currently operates at half its capacity. Its replacement would allow it to return to approved capacity of 760,000 barrels per day.
