Energy Transfer Will Convert an Eagle Ford Gas Pipeline to Liquids to Supply Trafigura Terminal in Corpus Christi

Trafigura Terminals Eagle Ford Port in Corpus Christi
Trafigura Terminals Eagle Ford Port in Corpus Christi

Energy Transfer has reached an agreement with Trafigura for liquids capacity that supports the development of a pipeline supplying the Port of Corpus Christi.

Energy Transfer will utilize existing infrastructure to construct an 82-mile, 100,000 b/d pipeline system from McMullen County to the Port of Corpus Christi.

Leveraging underutilized natural gas pipelines allows Energy Transfer to have the pipeline running in 9-12 months.

This pipeline combined with our deep-water terminal enables Trafigura to offer a complete solution to producers who seek to take Eagle Ford to the broader market.
— Jeff Kopp, Trafigura's Director of Oil for North America.
Oil Tanker Leaving Port of Corpus Christi
Oil Tanker Leaving Port of Corpus Christi

The pipeline will deliver crude to Trafigura's Port of Corpus Christi Terminal, where a $500 million construction project is underway on a second deep-water dock that is 850 ft long and has a draft of 45 ft. Once complete, the terminal will be able to handle Aframax vessels (245 meters or ~800 ft long). Aframax ships are medium-sized oil tankers with capacity of approximately 750,000 barrels.

Trafigura states the facility will be able to handle three medium range tankers and two inland barges at one time.

 

Kinder Morgan - Copano Reach $5 Billion Deal

Copano Energy Assets Map
Copano Energy Assets Map

Kinder Morgan and Copano Energy have reached a $5 billion agreement whereby KMP will acquire Copano. The transaction prices Copano at a 23.5% premium to its closing prices on January 29, 2013. The combined company has over 80,000 miles of pipelines and more than 180 terminals. The deal is expected to close by the third quarter of 2012

Richard Kinder, CEO stated, "The footprint we now control has never been paralleled........I'm absolutely convinced US natural gas is the future of energy......everything points to infrastructure being the biggest hurdle to continued growth.....We're seeing increased use of US hydrocarbons in every portion of the economy."

Copano's assets are centered around the South Texas Eagle Ford, Fort Worth Basin Barnett Shale, Oklahoma's Woodford Shale & Mississippi Lime plays, and the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. The company has more than $1 billion in identified growth projects and Rich Kinder expects that number will grow once the assets are under KMP control. Copano operates:

  • 6,900 miles of pipelines with 2.7 Bcf/d of throughput capacity
  • 9 processing plants with 1 Bcf/d of capacity
  • 315 mmcfd of treating capacity
Kinder Morgan Asset Map
Kinder Morgan Asset Map

Kinder Morgan will now own 100% of the two companies' Eagle Ford Gathering JV. Eagle Ford Gathering comprises approximately 400 miles of pipelines (including its capacity rights in certain KMP pipelines) with capacity to gather and process over 700,000 mmbtu/d.

Kinder plans to retain the "vast majority" of Copano's 415 employees and the company's Tulsa office.

KMP's Analyst day call will be streaming at kindermorgan.com until 2 pm CST.