About the Project

Marathon has embarked on a $2.2 billion project that will help create jobs and a more stable supply of petroleum products for Michigan motorists. Before proceeding with this project, Marathon, as a Responsible Care© company conducted a thorough analysis of its existing infrastructure, survey data, business fundamentals and other important criteria to help make an informed decision.

The Detroit Heavy Oil Upgrade Project (Detroit HOUP) will add new equipment at the Detroit refinery - Michigan's only refinery - to process heavy, more viscous crude oils. Once completed, the Detroit refinery will increase its capacity from approximately 106,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 120,000 bpd, resulting in an increase of more than 400,000 gallons of transportation fuels per day. Marathon also will add approximately 60 full time employees and 75 full time contractors.

Refinery construction began in June 2008 and is expected to be completed in late 2012.

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 at this time.

About Canadian Crude Oil
Canada's Alberta Province, north of Montana, is a source of a plentiful supply of heavy crude oil. The reserves in Canada contain 179 billion barrels of crude oil, placing Canada second only to Saudi Arabia in total world oil reserves. Canadian crude oil consists of a mixture of sand, clay, water and a hydrocarbon called bitumen – a black, asphalt-like substance that is very thick and cannot be moved through pipeline in its virgin state. This bitumen is partially processed or combined with diluents, such as condensate or lighter crude oil, in Canada to enable it to be transported by pipeline.