U.S. supertanker terminal set to export oil for first time
Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) LLC has successfully completed the first Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) crude oil loading operation at its deepwater port 18 miles offshore of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.
"We are pleased to offer the enhanced capability to safely and efficiently load the largest cargo vessels in the world with crude oil for export," said Tom Shaw, LOOP president. "There could not be a better time to offer this service as domestic production surpasses 10 million barrels per day in the ever-dynamic global crude oil market."
LOOP is the only U.S. port capable of fully loading a VLCC, which helps optimize the U.S. energy supply chain by enabling inbound vessels delivering foreign crude oil to leave LOOP with U.S. crude oil rather than returning empty.
"The new onloading configuration was accomplished with only minor modifications to existing facilities and is scalable to meet the changing needs of the industry," Shaw added.
Houston-based Shell Trading (US) Co. was the shipper of record for this historic cargo. LOOP has successfully offloaded more than 10,200 crude oil vessels since commencing operations in 1981.
For more information, visit www. loopllc.com or call (985) 276-6100.
Shale Support opens new Louisiana rail terminal
Shale Support Holdings LLC has opened its newest exclusive terminal in Gibsland, Louisiana. The terminal boasts 24/7 operations, 100- car capacity, easy access to major highways, on-site space to store containerized sand boxes and room to add future storage capabilities.
Shale Support is strategically aligned with key destination terminals that serve the Marcellus, Utica, Haynesville, Tuscaloosa, Mid-Con, Permian and Eagle Ford shale basins. The company has the flexibility to ship proppant via rail, road and barge.
For more information, visit www. shalesupport.com or call (601) 798-7821.
Eco-Energy begins operations at ethanol unit train facility
Eco-Energy Distribution Services has opened its new ethanol unit train distribution facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. The facility, which connects to Kinder Morgan Southeast Terminals LLC's Charlotte 3 Terminal, is located within the terminal complex in Charlotte and is equipped to receive 96 tank cars via the CSX Railway.
The facility has ethanol distribution capability via pipeline connection and/or tank truck delivery to all area gasoline blending locations. The Charlotte facility is Eco- Energy's ninth ethanol distribution terminal to open since 2012.
For more information, visit www. eco-energy.com or call (615) 778-2898.
First LNG commissioning cargo departs from DECP terminal
A transport ship carrying the first cargo of LNG produced for export recently departed from the Dominion Energy Cove Point (DECP) LNG terminal, where the newly constructed liquefaction facility is undergoing final commissioning. All major equipment has been operated and is being commissioned as expected following a comprehensive round of testing and quality assurance activities.
Shell NA LNG is providing the natural gas needed for liquefaction during the commissioning process and is off-taking by ship the LNG produced.
When commissioning is complete, DECP will produce LNG for ST Cove Point, the joint venture of Sumitomo Corp. and Tokyo Gas, and Gail Global (USA) LNG under 20-year contracts. DECP's liquefaction facility is designed to operate 24/7 and has a nameplate capacity of 5.25 mtpa of LNG, equivalent to approximately 8.3 million gallons of LNG per day.
Construction of the liquefaction facility began in October 2014, following more than three years of federal, state and local permit reviews and approvals. With a cost of approximately $4 billion, it is the largest construction project ever for Maryland and for Dominion Energy. Construction has involved more than 10,000 craft workers and a payroll of more than $565 million.
For more information, visit www. dominionenergy.com or call (410) 286-5100.