Magellan Midstream Partners Will Spend $250 Million on Condensate Splitter

Magellan Corpus Christi Terminal
Magellan Corpus Christi Terminal

Magellan Midstream Partners announced in late March plans to build a condensate splitter and make infrastructure improvements to its' Corpus Christi terminal for $250 million. According to company officials, the splitter will be able to process 50,000 b/d of condensate, supported by a long-term commitment from commodities trader Trafigura AG.

This agreement will provide another outlet for producers of domestic crude and condensate. We believe Corpus Christi is advantaged over other locations and these investments, along with our other assets in the area, are critical to providing long-term solutions for the producers.
— Jeff Kopp, Trafigura AG’s director of North America oil trading.

The need for improved midstream and downstream infrastructure is growing to meet the demands of condensate production in the Eagle Ford. In 2013, the Texas Railroad Commission reported an average of 207,183 b/d of condensate from the play. In January of 2014, condensate production alone was 178,778. That's up drastically from 2011 and 2010 when condensate production was only 80,464 b/d and 18,784 respectively.

Our Corpus Christi terminal is ideally situated to receive condensate from the Eagle Ford shale, including shipments via our Double Eagle pipeline joint venture, and to offer flexible services and a variety of market options for our customer.
— Michael Mears, Magellan’s chief executive officer.

The project also includes construction of more than one million barrels of storage, dock improvements and two additional truck rack bays at Magellan’s terminal. Magellan pipeline connectivity between Magellan’s terminal and Trafigura AG’s nearby facility.

Magellan company officials anticipate the new splitter and infrastructure improvements to be operational during the second half of 2016.

Read more at magellanlp.com

Copano and Magellan Plan Eagle Ford Condensate Line to Corpus Christi

Copano Energy and Magellan Midstream are planning a midstream joint venture (Double Eagle Pipeline LLC) that will construct almost 150 miles of pipe to deliver condensate to Magellan's Corpus Christi marine terminal. Eagle Ford pipeline and midstream capacity will get a boost of 100,000 bbls/d when the system comes online. The system will also include a truck unloading facility near Three Rivers, TX. The two companies will also make improvements to existing facilities. Copano will convert a 50-mile natural gas pipeline to condensate and Magellan will add 500,000 bbls of storage at the Corpus Christi terminal.

Statoil and Talisman Energy who have joint development in the Eagle Ford are the primary shippers

"Magellan looks forward to joining forces with Copano for this project that provides significant strategic value for both parties and our customers," said Michael Mears, Magellan's president and chief executive officer. "Combined, we are able to provide an attractive option for shippers to deliver petrochemical quality Eagle Ford condensate for use in Corpus Christi or higher-valued Texas markets via Magellan's marine capabilities."

"This project represents the next logical step in Copano's strategy of offering a full set of midstream services to Eagle Ford Shale producers and we look forward to working with Magellan on this opportunity," said R. Bruce Northcutt, Copano's president and chief executive officer. "By combining Copano's pipeline assets with access to Magellan's terminal at Corpus Christi, the joint venture will be able to leverage existing infrastructure and provide producers timely access to market alternatives at very competitive rates. The joint venture will continue to look for ways to expand the project and capture other condensate and oil-related growth opportunities in the Eagle Ford Shale play."

Read the entire press release at copanoenergy.com