Frequently Asked Questions

Detroit HOUP overview

What is the Detroit HOUP?
The Detroit HOUP, an acronym for Detroit Heavy Oil Upgrade Project, will help secure Michigan's supply of petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel and asphalt, by transporting heavy crude oils extracted from Canadian oil fields and other sources to Michigan's only refinery, located in southwest Detroit.

The project calls for upgrading and expanding the Detroit refinery to process the heavy crude oils delivered by the pipeline. Once completed, the Detroit refinery will increase its capacity from approximately 106,000 barrels per day to 120,000 bpd with an additional output of more than 400,000 gallons per day of transportation fuels.

Marathon will also construct a 1.5-mile pipeline connection to a crude oil supply primarily from Canada. Earlier plans to expand a section of pipeline in Monroe County continue to be delayed.