Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPP) will build its recently announced ethane export terminal on the Houston Ship Channel (HSC). The company has signed a 30-year agreement with the Port of Houston Authority for use of facilities adjacent to EPP’s existing Morgan’s Point terminal.
EPP also plans to build a pipeline from its Mont Belvieu, Tex., NGL fractionation and storage complex, providing direct access to ethane supply. Its Mont Belvieu complex includes 650,000 b/d of NGL fractionation and 100 million bbl of NGL storage (OGJ Online, Apr. 22, 2014). The export terminal will have a designed capacity to load fully refrigerated ethane at about 10,000 bbl/hr.
The company expects the terminal to begin operations third-quarter 2016. EPP has long-term contracts in place to support the terminal and is in discussions with other potential customers for remaining capacity.
EPP is already expanding its existing HSC LPG export terminal, increasing its fully refrigerated low-ethane propane capacity by 1.5-million bbl/month by the first quarter of next year. Enhanced refrigeration will boost the terminal’s total capacity to 9-million bbl/month (OGJ Online, Sept. 25, 2013).
