Line 61

The Line 61 Expansion

Enbridge constructed new pumping stations designed to increase the pressure in Line 61 to increase the flow from 400,000 to 1,200,000 (bpd), triple the existing flow rate and nearly 150% the flow rate of the stalled Keystone XL pipeline.  Dane County in Madison delayed the expansion progress of Line 61 by simply requesting Enbridge to provide sufficient insurance to cover the cost of Line 61 pipeline leaks.

What is in Line 61?

In addition to tar sand bitumen, Line 61 contains a cocktail of chemicals (diluent) used to allow the thick tar-like substance to flow through the pipe.  At its destination, the diluent is extracted from the bitumen and pumped back north in a pipeline (Line 13) running parallel to Line 61.  The chemicals in both Line 13 and Line 61 include: 1t,2-dimethylcyclopentane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, 2-methylhexane, 2-methylpentane,  3-methylhexane, 3-methylpentane, Benzene, cyclohexane, cyclopentane, i-pentane, methylcyclohexane, methylcyclopentane, n-butane, n-heptane, n-Hexane, n-Pentane, Toluene, Hydrogen sulfide, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes.

Line 61 Resources

Fantastic piece on Line 61 in Wisconsin, includes the Dane County Investigation

June 2014 overview of the Enbridge Keystone Clone Plan

Pics of Line 61 Road Markers and Pumping Stations

Interactive Line 61 Map

Hazardous Materials Sheets for Line 61 Contents

ICC Order Granting Eminent Domain Authority for Line 61

Source: 350Kishwaukee.org