Sunoco Exports 6 10

Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (Philadelphia), an affiliate of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP, has secured long-term, fee-based agreements with Shell Trading (US) Co. (STUSCO, Houston) to proceed with an LPG export/import project. STUSCO has committed to the project, known as Mariner South, as an anchor customer.

Mariner South will integrate Sunoco Logistics’ exiting Nederland Marine Terminal and pipeline from Mont Belvieu to Nederland, Texas with Lone Star NGL LLC’s Mont Belvieu fractionation and storage facilities, creating an LPG export/import operation on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Mariner South will have an initial capacity of 6 MMbbl a month and will be designed to load LPG carriers with an approximate capacity of 550,000 bbl. The project is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2015. Lone Star NGL LLC is a joint venture between Energy Transfer Partners and Regency Energy Partners LP (Dallas).

The initiative will utilize Lone Star’s fractionation capacity at Mont Belvieu, as well as construction of a new 100,000 bbld de-ethanizer to produce international-grade propane. It will also involve the construction of new refrigerated storage tanks at the Nederland Marine Terminal to take deliveries destined for LPG vessels. Nederland will provide 24-hour ship access in the Gulf Coast with a load rate of up to 30,000 bbl per hour. The terminal includes existing docks and acreage for expansion.

“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 CEO 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.”