Enbridge Line 9
Description
Section updated: October 2024
Disclaimer
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Terms of Use
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) provides this information for personal and non-commercial uses. The information contained in this map is based on externally sourced information. The CER makes no representations regarding the accuracy of this information. The CER accepts no responsibility or liability for inaccuracies, errors or omissions in the data and any loss, damage or costs incurred as a result of using or relying on the map data in any way.
The pipeline data contained in this map is subject to licensing terms and may not be reproduced, published, distributed or transferred in whole or in part. The map also contains information license under the Open Government License - Canada.
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Sources and Description
Sources
The information contained in these maps is obtained from the following sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (U.S. Pipelines); Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) (The Community Map of Canada); Geomatics Data Management Inc. (GDM) (CER-regulated pipelines); Government of Canada: Natural Resources Canada, and Surveyor General Branch (Indigenous Lands); Government of Canada: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (Modern and Historic Treaties).
Description
Line 9 travels through Ontario municipalities including Sarnia, London, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, Oshawa, Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, and Cornwall. At the Ontario-Quebec border, it crosses the Ottawa River near Hawkesbury, Ontario. In Quebec, it passes through Mirabel, Blainville, Terrebonne, and Montreal. Along the pipeline, there are several pump stations: Sarnia Terminal, North Westover Station, Hilton Station, Cardinal Station, Terrebonne Station, and Montreal Terminal.
History
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Did you know that Line 9 has been reversed twice? It originally flowed from west to east for 23 years before it was reversed in 1999, and then reversed again in 2015. It now flows from west to east again.
- Although Line 9 was originally built to allow western Canadian oil to be transported to refineries in Quebec and other eastern provinces, the line was reversed in 1999.
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It was reversed to accommodate changing market conditions so that crude oil imports received via the Montreal Pipeline from Portland, Maine,could be transported from Montreal to serve refineries in Sarnia and Nanticoke.
- This is one of many examples of the Canadian pipeline system adapting to changes in the dynamic global energy supply and market conditions.
Markets
- Quebec has two refineries. Historically, they were not well connected to domestic crude oil production and had to rely on international oil supply. Often this oil came by oil tankers along the St. Lawrence River or via Montreal Pipeline from a marine port in Portland, Maine
- The only other oil pipeline serving Quebec's refineries is the Montreal Pipeline, but throughputs on the Montreal Pipeline have been very low since 2016.
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The Valero Jean Gaulin Refinery receives its oil supply from oil tankers on the Saint Lawrence River. Tankers bring oil from Enbridge Line 9 via Montreal ports as well as from international locations via the North Atlantic Ocean.
Reconciliation Content
- We recognize that all lands are the traditional and/or treaty territories of Indigenous Peoples, however, in this data set, only treaty lands are represented due to data availability.
- For more information about how the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples in a region are defined, it is best to consult First Nation and Metis governments directly.
- For more information about traditional territories and potential or established treaty rights, you may also consult the Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Information System.
Details
Section updated: October 2024
| Pipeline ownership | |
|---|---|
| Pipeline name | Enbridge Line 9 pipeline |
| CER-regulated company | Enbridge Pipelines Inc. |
| Parent company | Enbridge Inc. |
| Pipeline attributes | |
| Group for financial regulationFootnote 1 | Group 1 |
| Commenced operations | 1976 |
| Location | Enbridge Line 9 originates at Sarnia, Ontario, and terminates at Montreal, Quebec. |
| CER-regulated pipeline length (km)Footnote 2 | 853 km |
| Transported commodity | Light, medium and heavy crude |
| Pipeline capacity | Approximately 300 thousand barrels per day (Mb/d) |
| Major interconnected pipelinesFootnote 3 | Enbridge Canadian Mainline (Lines 5 and 78B) |
References
Section updated: October 2024
Company:
CER:
- Regulatory documents for Enbridge Line 9 pipeline facility applications: [Folder 92263]
- Regulatory documents for Enbridge Line 9 pipeline toll & tariff applications: [Folder 155829]
Data sets on Open Government:
Pipeline timeline
Section updated: March 2022
8 April 1975 – Major facility change
The Government of Canada enters an agreementFootnote 4 with Interprovincial Pipe Line Inc. (IPL), predecessor of Enbridge Inc.,Footnote 5 to support the construction of the Montreal Extension, now known as Line 9Footnote 6
- Construction on Line 9 began in 1975 to secure crude oil supply for refineries in eastern Canada. At the time, pipeline systems in Canada could not ship crude oil from western Canada directly to these refineries.
4 June 1976
Line 9 opens, carrying crude oil produced in western Canada to refineries in Quebec at a capacity of approximately 315 000 b/d
1 May 1997
IPL files an application (“Line 9 Reversal Project”) to reverse the direction of flow from east to west, at a capacity of 240 000 b/d
9 December 1997
In the Reasons for Decision OH-2-97, the National Energy Board (NEB), precursor to the CER, approves the Line 9 Reversal Project
1999 – Major facility change
Enbridge reverses Line 9 to flow westward
- In 1999, Enbridge reversed the flow of Line 9 to transport crude oil from Montreal to refineries in Ontario. This crude oil was imported into Montreal via the Montreal Pipeline from Portland, Maine. The oil was brought to North America by marine vessels from areas such as the North Sea, West Africa, and the Middle East. Following the reversal, the capacity of Line 9 was approximately 240 000 b/d.
8 August 2011 – Major facility change
Enbridge files an application (“Line 9 Reversal Phase I Project”) to reverse Line 9A to flow eastward
- In August 2011, Enbridge filed an application to reverse the 194 km segment of Line 9 between Sarnia, Ontario, and Westover, Ontario (Line 9A). The initial design capacity was 169 000 b/d, expandable to 250 000 b/d. This reversal was in response to a shipper request from Imperial Oil to supply its Nanticoke Refinery with crude oil from western Canadian and U.S. sources.
27 July 2012
In the Letter Decision OH-005-2011, the NEB approves the Line 9 Reversal Phase I Project
29 November 2012 – Major facility change
Enbridge files an application (“Line 9B Reversal and Line 9 Capacity Expansion Project”) to reverse Line 9B to flow eastward and increase the entire Line 9 capacity to 300 000 b/d
- In November 2012, Enbridge filed an application to reverse the 639 km segment of Line 9 between Westover, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec (Line 9B). In its application, Enbridge also filed a request to increase the capacity of the entire Line 9 from 240 000 b/d to approximately 300 000 b/d through the introduction of a drag reducing agent, and to revise the Line 9 Rules and Regulations Tariff to allow for the transportation of heavy crude oil.
1 August 2013
The Line 9 Reversal Phase 1 Project is completed and opened
6 March 2014
In the Reasons for Decision OH-002-2013, the NEB approves the Line 9B Reversal and Line 9 Capacity Expansion Project, subject to conditionsFootnote 7
1 December 2015 – Major facility change
The Line 9B Reversal and Line 9 Capacity Expansion Project is operational
- The completion of the project enabled Quebec refiners to access western Canadian crude oil by pipeline once more. It also reverted the entire Line 9 back to the direction that was originally approved by the Board in 1975. For more information on the project, see the CER’s Line 9B Reversal and Line 9 Capacity Expansion Project information page.
Use
Apportionment, nomination and verification procedures
Section updated: October 2024
Apportionment, nomination and verification procedures
Line 9 is not regularly apportioned because there is generally sufficient capacity on the line for shippers. Since Line 9 receives supply from the Enbridge Mainline, Line 9 shippers are subject to the apportionment, nomination, and verification procedures of the Enbridge Mainline. As such, any apportionment on the Canadian Mainline can impact Line 9 shippers. See the CER’s Enbridge Mainline Pipeline Profile for more information on the Enbridge Mainline’s apportionment, nomination and verification procedures.
Throughput and capacity
Section updated: May 2025
Throughput and capacity
Section updated annually (mid-April)
Line 9 operates at a capacity of 300 000 b/d. A minimum of 8.3 per cent of the capacity, equivalent to 25 000 b/d, is set aside as uncommitted capacity.
Key Point Trends
Key Point Description
Note: The physical capacity of a pipeline is based on many factors such as the products being carried, direction of flow, pipeline pumping capacity, and maintenance work or other pressure restrictions. The actual physical capacity of the pipeline may, at times, be higher than the assumed operational capacity stated here.
Dashboard instructions
- Click on a key point button above the chart & map to view traffic at a different location. The map shows approximate locations on the pipeline where throughputs & capacity are recorded by the pipeline operator.
- Click and drag your mouse on the area chart to zoom into the desired date range. Click on the Reset Zoom button to reset the full date range.
- Click on the chart legend items below the chart to remove & add sections of data as required.
- The key point trends are calculated using quarterly average traffic at the key point. Natural gas throughput trends are displayed year over year (last full quarter of data compared to the same quarter last year). Crude oil and liquids key point trends are displayed quarter over quarter (last full quarter of data compared to the previous quarter).
Note: The five-year average is calculated for key points using the total throughput across all trade types and direction of flows. For bi-directional key points (both export and import) the throughput is displayed for both directions, instead of the five-year average.
Source and description
Data Source: Open Government
Description: The above dashboard displays pipeline throughput and capacity at key point(s) along the system. Where possible, the five-year average and five-year range for throughput is shown with the current year throughput to better highlight the trends. For pipeline key points with a defined location, a map is displayed next to the graph showing the approximate key point location where pipeline throughput and capacity are recorded.
Markets
Section updated: October 2024
Markets
Enbridge Line 9 transports crude oil from Sarnia, Ontario, to Montreal, Quebec. It serves two refineries in Quebec that manufacture refined petroleum productsDefinition* (RPPs) for consumers in Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes, the Northeastern United States (U.S.), and internationally:
- Suncor’s Montreal Refinery (137,000 barrels per day (b/d) capacity). RPPs, such as jet fuel, are shipped to markets in Ontario via the Trans-Northern Pipeline.
- Valero’s Jean Gaulin Refinery (265,000 b/d capacity) in Lévis, near Quebec City. The oil is shipped from MontrealFootnote 8 via marine vessel up the St. Lawrence River to the Jean Gaulin Refinery. RPPs are transported back to Valero’s Montreal East Terminal through Valero’s Pipeline Saint-Laurent.Footnote 9
Line 9 is also capable of delivering crude oil for feedstockDefinition* to Imperial Oil’s Nanticoke Refinery (113,000 b/d capacity) via Line 11 on the Enbridge Canadian Mainline. Nanticoke Refinery also receives supply from Enbridge Mainline’s Line 7, which is connected to Line 11. Nanticoke Refinery supplies RPPs into Ontario, Quebec, and U.S. markets.
Impacts on consumers
Section updated: October 2024
Impact on consumers
Line 9 ships crude oil to refineries in Ontario and Quebec that produce a variety of RPPs. Production varies depending on the season.Footnote 10 Examples of RPPs that are regularly consumed by Canadians include:
- Jet fuel, which is transported via the Trans-Northern Pipeline or by truck for use in airports including the Toronto Pearson Airport and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
- Petrochemical products, for manufacturing plastics such as bottles and polyester clothing
- Gasoline and diesel fuel, for fueling cars and trucks at gas stations
- Heating oil, for central heating systems of homes and office buildings
- Marine diesel fuel and bunker fuel, for vessels such as ships carrying goods in and out of the Port of Montreal
- Asphalt, for road surfacing, roof sealing, protective coating and other similar products
Transportation costs (tolls)
Section updated: May 2025
A toll is the price charged by a pipeline company for transportation and other services. Tolls allow pipeline companies to safely operate and maintain pipelines. Tolls also provide funds for companies to recover capital (the money used to build the pipeline), pay debts, and provide a return to investors. The interactive graph below shows the tolls on key paths on the pipeline since 2014.
Line 9 International Joint Tolls (IJT) are inclusive of service on the Enbridge Mainline system. Line 9 IJTs apply to crude oil that is transported from Canadian Mainline receipt points in western Canada, across international boundaries near Gretna, Manitoba, and Sarnia, Ontario, to Line 9 delivery points at either Nanticoke, Ontario, or Montreal, Quebec.
The Committed IJTs are determined using the transportation charges on the Enbridge Mainline and several additional surcharges. The Uncommitted IJTs are set at a premium such that it does not exceed 122% of the Committed IJT for the same path.
Official CER documents related to the traffic, tolls and tariffs for Enbridge Pipelines Inc. can be found here: [Folder 155829].
Data Source and Description
Data Source: Open Government
Description: The above chart displays tolls data for the pipeline system. Only major or benchmark toll paths are shown for illustrative purposes. To see tolls for all available system paths, see the tariff filing.
Abandonment funding
Section updated: October 2024
The CER requires all pipeline companies to set aside funds to safely cease operation of their pipelines at the end of their useful lives. In 2016, Enbridge Pipelines Inc. estimated it would cost $1.7 billion to do this for the Enbridge Mainline system, including Line 9. In 2024, this number was revised to $2.4 billion. These funds are being collected and set aside in a trust. Collection period end date is December 31, 2054. Although Line 9 does not have an abandonment cost estimate separate from the Mainline, the abandonment trust fund is collected separately (see Table 1). See the CER’s Enbridge Mainline Pipeline Profile for details on Enbridge Mainline’s abandonment trust fund balance.
Official CER documents related to abandonment funding can be found here, sorted by year and by company: abandonment funding documents [Folder 3300366]. Financial information Section updated: October 2024
See the CER’s Enbridge Mainline Pipeline Profile for more information on Enbridge Mainline’s financial information, including credit ratings and regulatory audits. Safety and environment Section updated: October 2024
See the CER’s Enbridge Mainline Pipeline Profile for more information on Enbridge Mainline’s conditions compliance, reported incidents, operations and maintenance activities, contaminated sites and remediation, and emergency management.
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Trust fund balance ($)
23,200,000
26,900,000
25,300,000
31,100,000
34,100,000