Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, Houston TX, has announced that in addition to successfully performing tests to determine the commercial viability of moving ethanol in its Central Florida pipeline system, it is now undertaking tests to assess transporting biodiesel through its pipelines on a commercial basis.
KMP recently completed a series of tests to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of transporting batched denatured ethanol in its 16-inch gasoline pipeline between Tampa and Orlando FL. The company is finalizing mechanical modifications to the pipeline and intends to offer this transportation service to its customers by mid-November.
Kinder Morgan also is evaluating other opportunities for transportation of batched ethanol in its pipeline portfolio. In addition, the company has completed over $60 million in ethanol projects including modifications to tanks, truck racks, and related infrastructure for new or expanded ethanol service at various terminals in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest and has approved an additional $27 million in investments to further expand its ethanol handling capability in southeastern markets.
The company offers offloading, storage and blending of ethanol at its terminals in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon.
In addition to ethanol, the company is currently conducting a test movement of blended B-5 biodiesel in a segment of the Plantation Pipe Line system that transports gasoline and diesel from Collins MS to Spartanburg SC.
Kinder Morgan, a 51 percent owner and the operator of Plantation Pipe Line Company, expects test results to be available by the end of October. The company also is evaluating the transportation of biodiesel on its Portland to Eugene OR pipeline to support the forthcoming biodiesel mandate in Oregon.