The Port of Corpus Christi Authority Commission has approved a lease agreement and related pipeline easement for the deepwater Bluewater Texas Terminal (BWTX).
The export terminal is a 50:50 joint venture (JV) between Phillips 66 and Trafigura Group and will be located 21 nautical miles from the entrance to the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. It will be fed with crude oil from the Permian and Eagle Ford production basins. It will be capable of loading vessels at rates of up to 80,000 bbl per hour, up to the size of very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and will have through capacities of approximately 16 VLCCs per month, from its two single point mooring (SPM) buoys. Plans were first announced for the terminal in March 2020.
The agreement approved by the commission defines the commercial terms with the Port of Corpus Christi for BWTX to access existing pipeline corridors and Port Authority property. BWTX plans to lease 12 acres (4.9 ha) of land on Harbor Island for an office and equipment for inspection, monitoring and communications.
‘Blue Water Texas Terminals will likely be the only offshore loading facility in Texas and certainly solidifies the Port of Corpus Christi’s position as the leading energy export gateway in the US. The message to our global allies and trading partners is simple – Texas is open for business,’ says Sean Strawbridge, CEO for the Port of Corpus Christi.
The BTWX is presently at the permitting stage and is still subject to a final investment decision by the JV partners.
