Imperial to sell 200,000 bpd Alberta pipeline

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept 5 (Reuters) - A group of major oil companies plans to sell a key crude oil pipeline in northern Alberta more than four decades after it began operations, co-owner Imperial Oil Ltd (IMO.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday.

Imperial and its partners, Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research), have hired CIBC World Markets (CM.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) to market the 200,000 barrel a day Rainbow Pipeline, Imperial spokesman Gordon Wong said.

"We are at the beginning stage," Wong said. "We are initiating a sales offering for Rainbow on behalf of all the shareholders."