Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPP) and Enbridge Inc. are holding concurrent binding open seasons to solicit capacity commitments from shippers for an expansion of the Seaway crude oil pipeline and a new pipeline that will be built from EPP’s Houston-area ECHO terminal to Port Arthur, Tex. EPP and Enbridge recently announced plans to reverse flow of the 500-mile, 30-in. OD Seaway pipeline, to transport crude oil from Cushing, Okla., to the US Gulf Coast (OGJ Online, Nov. 18, 2011).
An initial 150,000 b/d on the reversed system could be available by second-quarter 2012, EPP said. Pump station additions and modifications, expected by first-quarter 2013, would increase capacity to 400,000 b/d, assuming a mix of light and heavy grades of crude oil. Looping the Seaway pipeline would create capacity beyond the 400,000 b/d if warranted by open-season results.
EPP and Enbridge each own a 50% interest in the Seaway pipeline system, with EPP serving as operator.
The new 85-mile pipeline from EPP’s ECHO crude oil terminal southeast of Houston to the Port Arthur-Beaumont refining center will give shippers access to the heavy refining capabilities. EPP expects the line to enter in early 2014.
The open seasons began Jan. 4 and continue until midday on Feb. 10.