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High waves cause temporary shutdown of Michigan oil pipeline to Sarnia

Michigan officials say the flow of crude oil through twin underwater pipelines has been halted temporarily because of high winds and waves in the channel where Lakes Huron and Michigan meet.

Agreement states Line 5 will be shutdown when waves reach 2.4 metres for more than an hour

CBC News ·
In this June 8, 2017 file photo, fresh nuts, bolts and fittings are ready to be added to the east leg of the pipeline near St. Ignace, Mich., as Canadian oil transport company Enbridge prepares to test the east and west sides of the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. (Dale G Young/The Detroit News via AP)

Michigan officials say the flow of crude oil through twin underwater pipelines has been halted temporarily because of high winds and waves in the channel where Lakes Huron and Michigan meet.

The Michigan Agency for Energy says the temporary shutdown of Enbridge Inc.'s Line 5 is in keeping with a November agreement between the state and the Canadian oil transport company.

Under the deal, operation of the line will stop when bad weather causes wave heights of 2.4 metres or higher for longer than an hour.

Waves exceeded 2.7 metres Tuesday.

In this Sept. 23, 2015, file photo, the Mackinac Bridge is visible from a marker near Enbridge Line 5 on the northern shore of the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File)

The state agency says Enbridge shut down the lines at 11:37 a.m. EST and will resume the oil flow when conditions improve.

Line 5 carries oil from Superior, Wisconsin, to refineries at Sarnia.

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