Sentinel Midstream, Dallas, has reported plans to development Texas GulfLink, a proposed deepwater crude oil export terminal near Freeport, Tex. The completed facility will be capable of fully loading very large crude carrier vessels.
Texas GulfLink will include an onshore terminal with as much as 18 million bbl of storage, an offshore 42-in. pipeline, and a manned offshore platform to facilitate port operations with two catenary anchor leg mooring single-point mooring buoys.
Projected export loading rates will be as much as 85,000 bbl/hr, with a nominal capacity of 1.2 million b/d over the course of a year.
“Texas GulfLink will provide the United States with an economical solution to clear the over-supply barrels destined for the Gulf Coast,” said Jeff Ballard, Sentinel Midstream president and chief executive officer. “We have compiled a team of industry leading professionals who possess unique experience in construction and operations of deepwater ports and are well positioned to leverage that experience as prudent operators.”
Over the past year, Sentinel Midstream developed Texas GulfLink in conjunction with multiple stakeholders, including federal, state, and local agencies. The project has secured necessary commercial support to justify the capital investment and is preparing its submission of a formal permit with the US Maritime Administration.