Enterprise nears US ethane exports at new plant

Enterprise Products has executed an additional long-term contract to export ethane from its new terminal under construction at Morgan’s Point, Texas, the company announced this week.

With the additional volumes, Enterprise’s 200,000-bpd ethane export terminal is now approximately 90% contracted in terms of operating capacity.

“This agreement is a clear indication of the continued interest for US ethane as a low cost feedstock by the global petrochemical industry,” said A.J. “Jim” Teague, chief operating officer of Enterprise’s general partner.

“We are in negotiations with other customers and expect the remaining capacity to be sold out when the facility begins service," he added. "Furthermore, increased supplies of domestic ethane should help encourage continued development of infrastructure in consuming areas abroad, as well as ongoing expansion of the fleet of transportation vessels.”

The export terminal, which is on schedule to commence operations in the third quarter of 2016, will have the capability to load fully refrigerated ethane at rates up to 10,000 bbl/hour.

Supply for the new terminal, located along the Houston Ship Channel, will be sourced from Enterprise’s natural gas liquids fractionation and storage complex in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and transported through a 24-inch diameter pipeline currently under construction.