subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 05 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Published August 18, 2008 07:15 pm -

Floating port off Freeport Coast to aid local refineries


By Sherry Koonce
The Port Arthur News

By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

Local refineries are looking to coastal waters outside Freeport as a new method to import crude oil — one that will augment continued use of area ports while providing added flexibility and increased reliability.

Three companies announced Monday plans to construct a $2 million floating port and pipeline network 36 miles off the coast of Freeport in waters 115 feet deep.

The Texas Offshore Port System, or TOPS, is a joint venture of Enterprise Products Partners LP and Teppco Partners LP, both based in Houston, and Oiltanking Holding Americas Inc., a subsidiary of Germany’s privately held Marquard & Bahls AG.

Oceanic tankers too large to navigate Texas channels will be able to unload crude in the deep Gulf waters before it is pumped via pipeline to shore. Once ashore, another pipeline network will carry the oil to storage tanks and refineries, the Associated Press reported Monday.

Exxon Mobil Corp. and Motiva Enterprises LLC have made long-term commitments to utilize the facility.

With Motiva ramping up for a $7 billion expansion that will increase the refinery’s capacity by $325,000 barrels of crude a day for a total of 600,000 barrels received daily, the new terminal will offer numerous advantages, Verna Rutherford, spokesperson for Motiva’s Port Arthur refinery, said in a telephone interview Monday.

“Its a good thing for our company, our region, because it helps to ensure we have a reliable means of bringing in crude, which is especially important as we come on line with the expansion project in 2010,” Rutherford said.

Rutherford said the company currently received oil via tankers that travel up the Sabine-Neches Water Way. About five times a year there are incidents when a ship cannot get into the water way because of heavy fog, or daylight restrictions.

Though the company plans to continue its use of the Sabine-Neches Water Way, there are concerns that the channel could be overpopulated with ships by the year 2014 because of continued economic growth in the area.

“That is a risk that the offshore port mitigates,” Rutherford said.

Rick Rainey, spokesperson with Teppco’s Houston office, said the company studied several locations before selecting Freeport.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.




Zillow
monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Work from home! Be a Medical Transcriptionist! Free one hour seminars!
Free One Hour Seminars! WORK AT HOME! Be a Medical Transcriptionist. Transcribe medical reports dictated by doctors! Tr...>MORE

Come grow with us! EAST CYPRESS GLEN!
East Cypress Glen (NOT 9TH AVE. LOCATION) Has openings for the following positions: *RN, A.D.O.N. and *PRN CNA's & CM...>MORE

Put your business here!
Your ad detail would go here call 409-721-2440 for more information....>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

Advertise your Auto business here now!
Advertise your Auto business here now with our new premiere text ads.. Contact a Sales rep today at 409-721-2440....>MORE

Cash for Junk Cars & Trucks
Cash for junk cars AND TRUCKS
Free tow-away
Call 960-7785
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

Advertise your Real Estate business here now!
Advertise your Real Estate business here now with our premiere text ads. Contact a sales rep today at 409-721-2440...>MORE

Fully Furnished Apartments! CORPORATE HOUSING INC. 1-877-439-3322
CORPORATE HOUSING INC.
Serving Southeast Texas for 17 years! Fully Furnished Apartments. Linens & Housewares, All U
...>MORE

NEED AN APARTMENT???
PEBBLE CREEK APARTMENTS- 4251 Jimmy Johnson Blvd. - Port Arthur- 409-724-1525 1 & 2 Bedrooms. Newly renovated. Gated com...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

Reliable Handyman Here!
RELIABLE HANDYMAN
Home remodeling & maintenance. Drywall, painting, carpentry, pressure washing, etc.
Over 18
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index