Enterprise raises LPG export capacity at Houston Ship Channel terminal

Enterprise Products today announced the completion of an expansion project at its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export terminal at the Houston Ship Channel, which will increase the facility’s capacity for loading fully refrigerated, low-ethane propane to 9 million bbl/month.

Enhancements to existing refrigeration infrastructure, designed to add 2,500 bbl/hour or 1.5 MMBbls/month of incremental loading capacity, will allow Enterprise to accommodate an additional three ships per month.

Work is also progressing on construction of a new refrigeration train that will increase loading rates by another 11,000 bbl/hour and is on schedule for completion in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Once the final expansion phase has been completed, Enterprise will have the capability to load up to 16 MMBbls/month of LPG, which equates to 29 vessels.

“With these expansion projects, Enterprise is demonstrating its commitment to supporting the producers who have done a miraculous job of developing our domestic reserves, particularly in the shale basins across the country,” said A.J. “Jim” Teague, chief operating officer of Enterprise’s general partner.

“By increasing capacity at our LPG export terminal, we are providing customers with access to international markets, which helps facilitate continued domestic production that would otherwise be significantly curtailed," he added.

Enterprise says its LPG terminal has been instrumental in transforming the US into the largest propane exporter in the world and currently has approximately 1,800 cargoes scheduled from 2015 to 2024.

To help ensure adequate supply to the docks, the partnership is in the final stages of completing a dedicated 30-inch diameter LPG pipeline from Mont Belvieu, Texas to the terminal.