Enterprise sets record for volumes at Texas Gulf Coast marine terminals

HOUSTON -- Enterprise Products Partners L.P. has announced that the combined exports and imports of hydrocarbons across its marine terminals, including 18 deepwater docks along the Texas Gulf Coast, totaled a record 146 MMbbl on a gross basis during the first quarter of 2017.

The previous quarterly record was 136 MMbbl in the second quarter of 2016. The loading of natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, condensate, refined products and petrochemicals accounted for approximately 62% of total marine terminal volumes in the first quarter of 2017. The following is a breakdown of average daily marine terminal volumes by product in terms of thousand barrels per day, for the first quarter of 2017 on a gross basis before taking into account our net interest in certain joint ventures:

• Crude oil (WTI, Light WTI, condensate, West Texas Sour, etc.): 648,000 bpd
• NGLs (ethane, propane, butanes): 569,000 bpd
• Refined products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, methanol, MTBE): 384,000 bpd
• Petrochemicals (propylene): 15,000 bpd

“Our marine terminals reported a 16% increase in gross volumes for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016 to a record 146 MMbbl, or 1.6 MMbpd,” said A.J. “Jim” Teague, CEO of Enterprise’s general partner. “Gross NGLs and crude oil marine terminal volumes for the first quarter of 2017 increased by 25% and 9%, respectively, compared to the first quarter of 2016.”

“Our Enterprise Hydrocarbons Terminal on the Houston Ship Channel, the largest of our marine terminals, accounted for approximately 60%, or almost 922,000 bpd, of total volumes handled in the first quarter of 2017. It is well positioned to facilitate the growing global appetite for U.S. produced NGLs, crude oil, condensate, refined products and petrochemicals. With our recent investments in dock expansions, this facility has the capacity to handle up to 2.0 MMbpd, depending on the mix of hydrocarbon cargoes and imports versus exports,” continued Teague.

“Recently, we believe the Houston Ship Channel has been a victim of erroneous claims of growing congestion. Large vessel traffic on the waterway has essentially been flat since 2012. The Houston Ship Channel has the capability to handle much more deep draft activity as the average daily movements are less than 60% of its peak single-day record according to the Greater Houston Port Bureau. When it comes to access to onshore storage facilities, vessel traffic service, two-way traffic, max draft, beam and air draft dimensions, number of pilots and the lack of military and offshore platform limitations, our experience tells us the Houston Ship Channel is the crown jewel of ports on the Texas Gulf Coast, ” said Teague.