December 2010 Vol. 237 No. 12

Projects

Plains All American To Expand Oklahoma Terminal

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA) is adding a new pipeline interconnect and 4 MMbbl storage capacity at its Cushing, OK terminal facility in three phases.

In the aggregate, the construction of Phase IX, X and XI expansion projects will expand existing crude oil storage capacity by30% and enhance the connectivity of the company’s Cushing terminal. The Partnership expects these projects to cost $85 million.

The Phase IX expansion consists of making a high-capacity connection to Keystone Pipeline, completing certain terminal modifications to enable Keystone deliveries at full line rates, and constructing two 270,000 bbl tanks at a total cost of $20 million. The Partnership plans to be ready to accept Keystone deliveries in the first quarter. The Phase X and XI expansions include constructing fourteen 270,000 bbl tanks for a total of 3.8 MMbbl of crude oil storage capacity. These expansions are expected to be placed into service in stages from the second through fourth quarters at a cost of $65 million.

“These expansions are substantially underpinned by long-term contracts with third-party customers and highlight the continued strong demand for storage capacity that we are experiencing at our key market hub terminals,” said Greg L. Armstrong, chairman and CEO of Plains All American. “The expansions will bring total storage capacity at our Cushing terminal to over 18 MMbbls, approximately nine times its original size.”
PAA’s Cushing terminal is among the largest crude oil terminal facilities in the U.S.