Phillips 66 to develop Texas LPG export terminal

Phillips 66 reported it intends to develop a liquefied petroleum gas export terminal in Freeport, Tex. The proposed LPG terminal would be built at the site of the company’s existing marine terminal and provide 4.4 million bbl/month of LPG export capacity, the equivalent of 8 very large gas carriers, Phillips 66 said.

The terminal will use the company’s existing midstream, transportation, and storage infrastructure to supply petrochemical, heating, and transportation markets globally. The company owns nearby Gulf Coast Fractionators and the Enterprise Mont Belvieu Fractionator, which would supply the terminal with LPG. In April, Phillips 66 said it planned to develop the 100,000-b/d Sweeny Fractionator One near the company’s Sweeny refinery, with start-up expected by second-half 2015 (OGJ Online, April 3, 2013).

Phillips 66 said the export terminal project is currently in the engineering design phase, which includes filing all applicable permits. Final project approval is expected during first-half 2014, with startup planned for the mid-2016.

“We are looking at a rapidly changing energy landscape that presents excellent opportunities in the natural gas liquids piece of our midstream business,” commented Tim Taylor, executive vice-president, Phillips 66 commercial, marketing, transportation, and business development. He added that an LPG terminal builds on the company’s midstream growth strategy by taking advantage of markets outside of the US for products such as butane and propane.