Sunoco Logistics Partners LP has started a binding open season for Project Mariner East to deliver 65,000 b/d of propane and ethane from Marcellus shale areas in western Pennsylvania, including MarkWest Energy Partners LP’s processing and fractionation complex in Houston, Pa., to southeastern Pennsylvania.
Mariner East will be scalable to support higher volumes as needed, with propane shipments expected by second-half 2014 and full propane and ethane operations in first-half 2015. Subject to terms of the open season, Sunoco will give priority service to shippers making long-term volume commitments.
Mariner East would move ethane to the Philadelphia area from where it would be transported via ship to either the US Gulf Coast or Europe. It would use primarily existing Sunoco pipeline. The project would also include new storage at Philadelphia and near Nederland, Tex.
MarkWest, Sunoco’s partner in the project, says the capacity of Sunoco’s existing 8-in. OD pipeline between Delmont, Pa., and Philadelphia could be increased to meet any future increase in demand for space on the system. New pipe would be used between Houston, Pa. and Delmont.
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
