Trafigura signs pipeline agreement with ETP

Trafigura AG, an international commodities trading and logistics company, has signed a pipeline agreement with Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) for crude oil and condensate transportation capacity. The 82-mile pipeline system from McMullen County to Corpus Christi will include the conversion of existing Energy Transfer natural gas pipelines to liquids service and have the capacity to transport approximately 100,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day. The South Texas pipeline system is expected to be operational in the next nine to twelve 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”, said Jeff Kopp, Trafigura's Director of Oil for North America. "Combining Energy Transfer's pipeline assets with Trafigura's facilities in Corpus Christi is an extremely efficient solution for Eagle Ford shale producers”, said Lee Hanse, executive vice president of Business Development for ETP.

To complement the existing multi-modal transportation system capabilities of its Corpus Christi terminal, Trafigura is building a second deep-water dock with an overall length of 850ft and a 45ft draft capable of loading an Aframax vessel. Construction on the new dock is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2014.