DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved building an approximate 1,100 mile crude oil pipeline (“Bakken Pipeline”) to transport crude supply from strategic receipt points in the Bakken/Three Forks production area in North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois, where the Bakken Pipeline will interconnect with Energy Transfer’s existing 30-inch diameter Trunkline Pipeline (“Trunkline”), which is being converted from natural gas service to crude transportation service. From Patoka, shippers will be able to access multiple markets, including Midwest markets and East Coast markets by rail as well as the Gulf Coast, via Trunkline, to the Nederland, Texas crude oil terminalling facility of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL). Additionally, Energy Transfer will develop a rail terminal facility in Illinois to access East Coast refineries.
ETP has secured multiple long-term binding contractual commitments from shippers sufficient to fully support the construction of a 30-inch pipeline to Patoka. The 30-inch diameter pipeline will initially provide 320,000 barrels per day of capacity, and ETP could increase the capacity of the Bakken Pipeline based on additional customer demand. ETP has already begun the process of ordering steel and negotiating construction contracts for the Bakken Pipeline, and ETP expects to have the Bakken Pipeline built and in service, and the Trunkline crude oil conversion project completed and in service, by the end of 2016. ETP is in discussions with SXL regarding a potentially significant equity participation by SXL.
The construction of the Bakken Pipeline project will help further develop the crude rich areas in and around the Bakken and provide additional U.S. crude supplies to U.S. markets and refineries along the East and Gulf Coasts. The pipeline not only supports the continued growth and production on the Bakken area, but does so in a cost effective and environmentally responsible manner by reducing the current utilization of rail and truck transportation as the predominant alternative to moving Bakken crude oil volumes to major U.S. markets.
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP) is a master limited partnership owning and operating one of the largest and most diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States. ETP currently owns and operates approximately 35,000 miles of natural gas and natural gas liquids pipelines. ETP owns 100% of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP (the successor of Southern Union Company) and Sunoco, Inc., and a 70% interest in Lone Star NGL LLC, a joint venture that owns and operates natural gas liquids storage, fractionation and transportation assets. ETP also owns the general partner, 100% of the incentive distribution rights, and approximately 33.5 million common units in Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL), which operates a geographically diverse portfolio of crude oil and refined products pipelines, terminalling and crude oil acquisition and marketing assets. ETP’s general partner is owned by ETE. For more information, visit the Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. web site at www.energytransfer.com.
Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) is a master limited partnership which owns the general partner and 100% of the incentive distribution rights (IDRs) of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP), approximately 30.8 million ETP common units, and approximately 50.2 million ETP Class H Units, which track 50% of the underlying economics of the general partner interest and IDRs of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL). ETE also owns the general partner and 100% of the IDRs of Regency Energy Partners LP (NYSE: RGP) and approximately 40.7 million RGP common units. The Energy Transfer family of companies owns more than 61,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products, and crude oil pipelines. For more information, visit the Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. web site at www.energytransfer.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking statements as defined by federal law. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management’s control. An extensive list of factors that can affect future results are discussed in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect new information or events.
The information contained in this press release is available on our website at www.energytransfer.com.
