Shell Pipeline Co. LP requested shipper commitments for plans to reverse its Houma-to-Houston (Ho-Ho) crude oil pipeline system. The reversed pipeline would connect the Houston and Port Arthur, Tex., markets with the Louisiana markets in early 2013, subject to regulatory approval. Service from Houma, La., to St. James, La., will continue to flow that direction.

The reversal will allow barrels from the Eagle Ford, Barnett, and Bakken production areas, as well as supplies from storage in Cushing, Okla., improved access to the full breadth of the Houston-to-Louisiana refining complex, moving up to 300,000 b/d across the region depending on the crude types shipped (OGJ, Jan. 9, 2012, p. 24).

Commitments from interested shippers are due Apr. 20.

Enterprise Products Partners and Enbridge Inc. last month announced a supplemental binding open season for shipments on a new 85-mile pipeline shipping crude from Houston to Port Arthur (OGJ Online, Feb. 28, 2012).

Contact Christopher E. Smith at chriss@ogjonline.com.