World’s largest ethane export terminal coming to Houston

HOUSTON – The world’s largest ethane export terminal is coming to the Houston Ship Channel. Enterprise Products Partners LP will construct a refrigerated ethane export facility.

The company has signed a 30-year agreement with the Port of Houston Authority for use of facilities adjacent to Enterprise’s existing Morgan’s Point terminal.

The facility is expected to begin operations in third quarter 2016. The export terminal will be able to load fully refrigerated ethane at approximately 10,000 barrels per hour.

Enterprise also plans to build a pipeline from its Mont Belvieu natural gas liquids fractionation and storage complex to provide direct access to the ethane supply.

The Mont Belvieu complex is connected to growing supplies of ethane from the Marcellus and Utica shale regions through Enterprise’s recently completed ATEX ethane pipeline.

"The agreement is exciting for the port and the entire region in terms of creating jobs and fostering positive economic impact," said Janiece Longoria, chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority.