Enbridge (ENB) and Energy Transfer (ET) are working together on a project to move Canadian crude oil through the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in the Bakken. The companies are sharing few details currently, but East Daley Analytics believes the project involves a reversal of the Enbridge Bakken Pipeline.
Both companies teased the plan on their 3Q25 earnings. ET briefly mentioned a Dakota Access North project, while ENB said it is “advancing Mainline Optimization Phase 2.” The initiative would add 250 Mb/d of capacity to move Canadian barrels onto the DAPL system, they said. ET operates DAPL and has a 38.2% interest, while ENB holds 27.6%. The partners plan to gauge market interest before moving forward and expect a final investment decision (FID) by mid-2026.
Though information is limited, ENB’s assets offer a clear pathway for how Canadian barrels could be routed onto DAPL. The Enbridge Bakken line currently moves light-sweet Bakken volumes north from Minot County, ND to Cromer in Manitoba, where it links into the Mainline. The pipeline is designed to carry ~150 Mb/d of crude but has been notably underused, averaging ~37 Mb/d over the last six months, according to East Daley’s Crude Hub Model.
DAPL can transport 750 Mb/d and has averaged ~512 Mb/d of throughput over the latest six months, suggesting ample room to absorb the incremental volumes envisioned in the project.
The most cost-effective path for moving additional Canadian barrels onto DAPL would likely involve reversing the Enbridge Bakken line and sourcing volumes off the Mainline. ENB has reversed this system before, so the concept is not new. Although the Enbridge line and DAPL do not currently interconnect in North Dakota, the two pipes are less than 50 miles apart, meaning only a modest amount of new infrastructure would be needed to enable Canadian crude to reach DAPL.
To accommodate both heavy-sour Canadian crude and light-sweet Bakken crude, DAPL would also need to operate in batched service to manage the differing qualities.
ENB and ET envision adding 250 Mb/d of capacity, yet the Enbridge Bakken line only has 150 Mb/d of nameplate currently. Reaching the targeted throughput would likely require new pump stations or using drag-reducing agents (DRAs) to push volumes higher.
The project represents a potential pathway to boost DAPL utilization, offering upside for both Energy Transfer and Enbridge. ENB is primarily focused on expanding the Mainline system currently, but the project could be a feasible option that materializes in the coming years. – Keland Rumsey Tickers: ENB, ET.
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