April 4, 2012 [OPIS] - Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP today announced the completion and startup of a 16-inch dedicated ethanol pipeline connection between its Linden, N.J., unit train facility and its largest New York Harbor terminal in Carteret, N.J.
The Linden terminal has handled as much as 36,000 b/d of ethanol, with 550,000 bbl of storage through Citgo Petroleum’s Tremley Point terminal, which features a high-speed truck rack, a barge and a ship dock.
The project complements a previously announced $60-million expansion project at Carteret, which added more than 1 million bbl of storage to the nearly 8 million bbl of storage currently in place at the terminal.
The pipeline has the dual benefit of allowing Linden customers access to four Carteret barge docks and two ship docks, while effectively expanding the storage capacity of the Linden terminal.
Conversely, ethanol customers at Carteret now have access to a full unit train receiving system.
Initially, Kinder Morgan is projecting that an additional 195,000 bbl at Carteret will be employed in ethanol service.
The directional drill pipeline includes full automation and a state-of-the-art leak detection system. Initially, the pipeline will be operated to move domestic grade, fully denatured product. However, Linden will be offering the capability to handle ethanol specifications suitable for export in the near future as the market dictates.
