Phillips 66 (Houston) has begun operations at its new 100,000-bbld NGL fractionator located at the company’s Sweeny Complex in Old Ocean, Texas. Sweeny Fractionator One supplies purity ethane and other liquefied petroleum gases to the petrochemical industry and heating markets. It is supported by 250 miles of new pipelines and a multimillion-barrel storage cavern complex.

“The startup of Sweeny Fractionator One is a significant milestone in the growth of our midstream business,” said Bob Herman, executive vice president, midstream, for Phillips 66. “We plan to add more capacity in the future to supply our customers LPGs based on affordable North American natural gas liquids.”

The LPGs produced at Sweeny Fractionator One are being delivered via pipeline to local petrochemical customers, as well as to the market hub at Mont Belvieu. Phillips 66 will have the capacity to place LPG into global markets following completion of its 150,000-bbld Freeport LPG export terminal in the second half of 2016.

Phillips 66 notes it has a long history in the midstream business segment, including NGL transportation, storage, and fractionation. The company owns fractionation capacity at multiple fractionators at Mont Belvieu and Conway, Kan. Sweeny Fractionator One and the Freeport LPG export terminal represent a combined capital investment of more than $3 billion. The new assets are creating more than 70 full-time jobs in addition to 5500 construction jobs.