Enterprise finishes Texas natgas expansion

15 June 2007 00:29  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Enterprise Products Partners said on Thursday it has completed a project to expand its terminal at the Houston Ship Channel to handle more volumes of natural gas liquids (NGLs) and liquefied petroleum gases (LPGs)

The $60m (€45m) expansion doubles the offloading capacity of the facility from 240,000 bbl/day to 480,000 bbl/day and gives it the flexibility to simultaneously unload product from two vessels or two separate products from the same vessel, Enterprise said.

The terminal's maximum loading rate for exports has increased 14% from 140,000 bbl/day to 160,000 bbl/day.

Natural gas is a key feedstock for the US petrochemicals industry.

Enterprise said it increased the capacity on its pipelines that connect the terminal to the partnership's fractionation and storage complex at Mont Belvieu, Texas.

"Industry sources expect the volumes of LPGs coming into the United States to more than double over the next three years,” said Enterprise president and chief executive Ralph Cunningham.

“In 2006, we handled approximately 60% of the total waterbourne LPG imports into the country,” he continued.

“With the expansion, which gives us the ability to offload products twice as quickly, we look forward to building on our leadership position and adding value to our integrated midstream energy network by enhancing the pipeline, fractionation and storage support services we offer."

($1 = €0.75)

By: Brian Ford
+1 713 525 2653

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