Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP is expanding its Sweeny Lateral pipeline running between the Kinder Morgan Crude Condensate (KMCC) pipeline and Phillips 66’s Sweeny refinery in Brazoria County, Tex.
KMCC, which went into service June 2012, transports crude and condensate from the Eagle Ford shale to the Houston Ship Channel through 65 miles of newbuild construction and 113 miles of converted natural gas pipeline.
The Sweeny expansion will increase capacity on the 27-mile, 12-in. OD line to 100,000 b/d from an initially planned 30,000 b/d. KMEP will add new pumps and an additional 120,000-bbl storage tank at its Wharton pump station in Wharton County, Tex., and increase the truck offload capabilities at its DeWitt station in DeWitt County, Tex., to facilitate the expansion.
Phillips 66 plans to develop a 100,000 b/d NGL fractionator at Old Ocean, Tex., near its Sweeny refinery, with start-up scheduled for second-half 2015 (OGJ Online, Apr. 3, 2013).
KMEP expects the Sweeney lateral to enter service yearend. The company partnered with Watco Cos. LLC earlier this year to build a crude-by-rail terminal in Houston (OGJ Online, Feb. 22, 2013).
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
