November 10, 205 [OPIS] - Enterprise Product Partners announced Monday that it has signed an additional long-term contract to export ethane from its new terminal under construction at Morgan's Point, Texas.
The new volume means that Enterprise’s 200,000-bbl/day export terminal is about 90% contracted for operating capacity.
The company said in a press release that the terminal, which is scheduled to begin operations in the third quarter of 2016, will have the capacity to load fully refrigerated ethane at rates up to 10,000 bbl per hour.
Supply for the 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 under construction.
“This agreement is a clear indication of the continued interest for U.S. 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. Details of the contract were not disclosed.