EPP to develop two Texas refined products export terminals

Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPP) is developing two refined products export terminals to meet growing demand for additional products export capability on the US Gulf Coast.

Terminal development will use EPP’s existing Southern Complex of refined products pipeline, storage, and terminal facilities in southeast Texas, to improve access to its marine facilities in Beaumont, Tex., and on the Houston Ship Channel (HSC). Export service at the reactivated Beaumont marine terminal will initially handle Panamax-size vessels and is expected to begin first-quarter 2014, followed in mid-2014 by expansions at marine terminal on the HSC initially sized to handle up to Aframax-class vessels.

EPP’s Southern Complex has served as a feeder system for the Enterprise TE Products Pipeline, which delivers products to the US Midwest. The company says it has repurposed the Southern Complex over the past year to increase supply and market access, system flexibility, and capacity. Storage capacity has more than doubled to 12 million bbl; key pipeline segments serving major refining centers have been made bidirectional; and new interconnects provide access to major, third-party interstate pipeline systems.

The Southern Complex is directly connected for refined product receipts from the Colonial Pipeline and 3.3 million b/d from 10 refineries in southeast Texas. It also offers access to three interstate pipelines and one intrastate pipeline.

EPP described the expansion as driven by growth in US crude oil production and strong international demand for US refined products. The US has transitioned to exporting 1 million b/d in 2012 from importing roughly the same amount in 2007, EPP noted.

The company earlier this year began expanded Houston LPG export operations (OGJ Online, Mar. 7, 2013) and announced plans to add 4 million bbl of crude storage to its Enterprise Crude Oil Houston site (OGJ Online, May 3, 2013).

Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].