KMEP to reverse Cochin Pipeline, ship diluent to Alberta
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMEP) has completed a successful binding open season for its Cochin Reversal project, allowing the company to offer service to move light condensate from Kankakee County, Ill., to existing terminal facilities near Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. KMEP received more than 100,000 b/d of binding commitments for a minimum 10-year term.
The roughly $225 million project involves KMEP modifying the western leg of its Cochin Pipeline to connect to Explorer Pipeline Co.’s pipeline in Kankakee County and to reverse the product flow to move condensate northwest to Fort Saskatchewan. Condensate will be sourced from the both the Eagle Ford shale and US Gulf Coast, KMEP said.
Cochin is a 1,900-mile, 12-in. OD multiproduct pipeline operating between Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., and Windsor, Ont. It currently moves propane and ethane-propane mix to the US Midwest and eastern Canadian petrochemical and fuel customers. Explorer Pipeline is a nearly 1,900-mile common carrier pipeline system moving refined petroleum products, feedstock, and diluent from the Gulf Coast throughout the Midwest.
Light condensate shipments could begin as early as July 1, 2014, pending regulatory approvals. KMEP has yet to determine the nature of future eastbound service from Illinois to Windsor, Ont. (OGJ Online, Apr. 23, 2012).
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
Christopher E. Smith | Editor in Chief
Christopher brings 27 years of experience in a variety of oil and gas industry analysis and reporting roles to his work as Editor-in-Chief, specializing for the last 15 of them in midstream and transportation sectors.
