Plains All American Pipeline LP, BP Oil Pipeline Co. and Marathon Petroleum Corp. intend to launch a binding open season in January for the reversal of the 40-inch, 1.2 million-barrel-per-day Capline crude oil pipeline, the companies announced Jan. 2.

The joint venture partners expect southbound service to begin on Capline, which transports crude from St. James, La., to Patoka, Ill., in the third quarter of 2020, subject to shipper interest and regulatory approvals.

The pipeline would have an initial capacity of 300,000 bbl/d and would be able to receive crude oil from connecting carriers at Patoka. Shippers would also be able to access a distribution network at St. James, which includes refineries, terminals, ships, barges and rail.

The companies conducted a nonbinding open season in December 2017 for a potential reversal of Capline.