CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 19, 2012) - Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB) has confirmed an oil release at its Elk Point oil pumping station on Line 19 (Athabasca Pipeline), approximately 70 kilometres (43.5 miles) south of Bonnyville, Alberta and approximately 24 kilometres (15 miles) from the town of Elk Point.
The release, which occurred June 18, 2012, is largely contained within the pumping station site. The area was secured and clean-up operations began immediately. There is no risk to public health or safety. Preliminary volume estimates of the release are approximately 230 m3 (1,400 barrels). The cause of the release appears to be a failure of a flange gasket in the pumping station.
Immediately upon Enbridge's detection of the pumping station leak, the pipeline was shut down. Enbridge contacted local emergency response organizations and has notified civic authorities and regulatory agencies.
With the Elk Point pump station isolated and shut down, the line was safely restarted on the afternoon on June 18 and has run normally since that time. However, the line was again shut down the afternoon of June 19 on the order of the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) as the ERCB and Enbridge continue their investigation. Enbridge is in discussion with the ERCB to determine the appropriate time for a restart of the line.
About Enbridge Inc.
Enbridge Inc. is a North American leader in delivering energy and one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. As a transporter of energy, Enbridge operates, in Canada and the U.S., the world's longest crude oil and liquids transportation system. The Company also has a significant and growing involvement in natural gas gathering, transmission and midstream businesses, and an increasing involvement in power transmission. As a distributor of energy, Enbridge owns and operates Canada's largest natural gas distribution company, and provides distribution services in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. As a generator of energy, Enbridge has interests in almost 1,000 megawatts of renewable and alternative energy generating capacity and is expanding its interests in wind and solar energy, geothermal and hybrid fuel cells. Enbridge employs about 7,000 people, primarily in Canada and the U.S. and is ranked as one of Canada's Greenest Employers, and one of the Top 100 Companies to Work for in Canada. Enbridge's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com.
Certain information provided in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Enbridge believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties pertaining to operating performance, regulatory parameters, weather, economic conditions and commodity prices. You can find a discussion of those risks and uncertainties in our Canadian securities filings and American SEC filings. While Enbridge makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Enbridge assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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