Kinder Morgan opens new Ohio to Ontario pipeline

HOUSTON — Kinder Morgan Inc. has announced its Utopia Pipeline from Harrison County, Ohio, to Windsor, Ont. has been placed into service.

The pipeline, to carry the hydrocarbon product ethane, extends 1,125 kilometres and has an initial capacity of 50,000 barrels per day, with a capacity to expand to more than 75,000 barrels per day, said a Jan. 23 media statement.

“The project team, in co-ordination with local, state and federal agencies, has done a tremendous job developing a project that provides ethane takeaway capacity from the Utica shale to the growing petrochemical industry while also maintaining an open dialogue with the local communities to support their needs and consider alternatives,” said Don Lindley, president of natural gas liquids, products pipelines for Kinder Morgan, in the statement.

Kinder Morgan owns an interest in or operates 137,000 kilometres of pipelines.