Energy Transfer Affiliates to Move Forward with a Gulf Coast LPG Export/Import Project
Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE:
SXL), an affiliate of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:
ETP), and Lone Star NGL LLC, a joint venture between ETP and Regency
Energy Partners LP (NYSE:
RGP), announced today that long-term, fee-based agreements have been
executed with Shell Trading US Company (STUSCO) to move forward with a
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export/import project. STUSCO has
committed to the project, known as Mariner South, as an anchor customer.
The Mariner South project will integrate SXL’s existing Nederland Marine
Terminal and pipeline from Mont Belvieu, Texas to Nederland, Texas with
Lone Star’s Mont Belvieu fractionation and storage facilities, creating
a world class LPG export/import operation in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Mariner South will have an initial capacity of 6 million barrels per
month and will be designed to load LPG carriers with an approximate
capacity of 550,000 barrels. The Mariner South project is expected to be
operational in the first quarter of 2015.
The project will utilize Lone Star’s increasing fractionation capacity
at Mont Belvieu as well as construction of a new 100,000 barrel per day
de-ethanizer to convert propane to international specifications. It also
will involve the construction of new refrigerated storage tanks located
at the Nederland Terminal to take deliveries into the LPG vessels. The
Nederland Terminal will provide 24-hour ship access in the Gulf Coast
with a load rate of up to 30,000 barrels per hour. The terminal facility
includes existing docks and acreage for future expansion. The project
can be expanded to handle additional volumes of products.
“The development of this world class Gulf Coast LPG operation is in
response to continued growth in North American NGL production and
international demand for LPG supplies,” said Steve Spaulding, Executive
Vice President of Lone Star NGL. “We are very pleased to have Shell on
board as an anchor customer. The Mariner South project is a clear
example of the value created from the synergies between Sunoco Logistics
and Lone Star assets.”
“By working together, Lone Star and Sunoco Logistics will provide an
expedited solution to meet the growing customer demand for LPG exports
from the Gulf Coast,” said Mike Hennigan, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Sunoco Logistics. “The Mariner South project builds on the
Mariner project franchise we have established in the Northeast to
provide comprehensive takeaway solutions for our growing customer base
as a direct result of increased shale production.”
Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL), headquartered
in Philadelphia, is a master limited partnership that owns and operates
a logistics business consisting of a geographically diverse portfolio of
complementary crude oil & refined product pipeline, terminalling, and
acquisition & marketing assets. SXL’s general partner is owned by Energy
Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP). For more information, visit
Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. web site at www.sunocologistics.com.
Lone Star NGL LLC (Lone Star), a joint venture between Energy
Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP) and Regency Energy Partners LP
(NYSE: RGP), owns and operates natural gas liquids storage,
fractionation, and transportation assets in Texas, Louisiana, and
Mississippi. Lone Star's assets include approximately 2,000 miles of
natural gas liquids pipelines and 47 million barrels of storage capacity
at Mont Belvieu, Texas. ETP owns and operates a diversified portfolio of
energy assets, including approximately 62,000 miles of natural gas
pipelines and related facilities that gather, treat, process, transport
and store natural gas. RGP provides midstream natural gas and natural
gas liquids gathering and processing, contract compression, treating and
transportation through more than 7,300 miles of gas gathering pipelines
and related facilities. Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE)
owns the general partner of both ETP and RGP.
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP) is a master
limited partnership owning and operating one of the largest and most
diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States. ETP
currently has natural gas operations that include approximately 62,000
miles of gathering and transportation pipelines, treating and processing
assets, and storage facilities. ETP also owns general partner interests,
100% of the incentive distribution rights, and approximately 33.5
million limited partner units in Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE:
SXL), which operates a geographically diverse portfolio of crude oil
and refined products pipelines, terminalling and crude oil acquisition
and marketing assets. ETP also holds a 70% interest in Lone Star NGL, a
joint venture that owns and operates natural gas liquids storage,
fractionation and transportation assets in Texas, Louisiana and
Mississippi. ETP owns 100% of ETP Holdco, which owns Southern Union
Company and Sunoco, Inc. ETP’s general partner is owned by ETE. For more
information, visit the Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. web site at www.energytransfer.com.
Regency Energy Partners LP (NYSE: RGP) is a
growth-oriented, midstream energy partnership engaged in the gathering
and processing, contract compression, treating and transportation of
natural gas and the transportation, fractionation and storage of natural
gas liquids. RGP also holds a 30% interest in Lone Star NGL LLC, a joint
venture that owns and operates natural gas liquids storage,
fractionation, and transportation assets in Texas, Louisiana and
Mississippi. Regency’s general partner is owned by Energy Transfer
Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE). For more information, visit the Regency
Energy Partners LP web site at www.regencyenergy.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information provided in this news release constitutes
forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "expect," "project,"
"estimate," "forecast" and similar expressions are intended to identify
such forward-looking statements. Although Energy Transfer, Regency,
Sunoco Logistics and Lone Star NGL (collectively, the “Companies”)
believe that these statements are based on information and assumptions
which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are
necessarily subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties pertaining
to operating performance, regulatory parameters, weather, economic
conditions and commodity prices. You can find a discussion of those
risks and uncertainties in filings made by Energy Transfer, Regency and
Sunoco Logistics with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the
Companies make these forward-looking statements in good faith, should
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary
significantly from those expected. Except as may be required by
applicable securities laws, none of the Companies assumes any obligation
to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein
or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Please visit www.energytransfer.com,
www.regencyenergy.com
or www.sunocologistics.com
for more information.
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