Rangeland Energy begins development of STEPS

Rangeland Energy (Rangeland) has announced that it has initiated development of the South Texas Energy Products System (STEPS). STEPS is an integrated hydrocarbon logistics system that will receive and store refined products, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other hydrocarbons at a new terminal hub located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and transport them to terminals primarily located in Mexico.

During the initial phase of the project, refined products and LPG will be received in the Corpus Christi terminal then shipped to inland terminals located in Mexico. In subsequent phases, marine facilities in Corpus Christi will be added to the system, along with the infrastructure to accommodate additional commodities including crude oil, condensate and fuel oil. The STEPS project will expand upon and leverage Rangeland’s successful track record of developing similar infrastructure in the Bakken Shale and Permian Basin.

STEPS, Phase I

The first phase of STEPS is the construction of the terminal in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Rangeland has entered into an agreement to purchase approximately 190 acres of land. The terminal site in Corpus Christi is strategically situated along the Kansas City Southern railroad (KCS) mainline within five miles of the Port of Corpus Christi and the Valero, CITGO and Flint Hills refineries.

Inbound products initially will be delivered by truck or rail, followed later by pipeline and barge. Refined products and LPG will move out of the STEPS Corpus Terminal primarily by rail, but the terminal could eventually connect to pipelines and vessels. The STEPS Corpus Terminal is expected to be in service during the 1Q17. Initial Phase I rail shipments will be by manifest with the facility accommodating unit trains later in 2017.

“STEPS will be a great benefit to US refiners, marketers and consumers in Mexico. There is an abundance of hydrocarbons in the US and an increasing demand for gasoline, diesel and propane in Mexico,” said Chris Keene, President and CEO of Rangeland Energy. “We are experienced terminal and pipeline developers with a deep understanding of logistics and how to make an integrated, multimodal system work. We will begin by transloading into rail cars for manifest shipments and grow that business into a large unit train operation that ties together Corpus Christi’s refineries, tank farms, splitters, fractionators and other plants into a well connected and efficient hydrocarbon hub.”

STEPS, Phase II and additional growth

While construction of the Corpus Christi terminal is underway, Rangeland will work with others to explore the development of inland rail unloading terminal alternatives located on the KCS mainline in Mexico. Destinations may include Monterrey/Saltillo, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Guadalajara and Mexico City. Phase II will include the expansion of the Corpus Christi Terminal to accommodate multiple unit trains as well as additional capacity to handle other commodities. Subsequent phases may include the development of a marine-based facility in Corpus Christi with access to a marine-based destination terminal in Tuxpan, Mexico.

In 2011, Rangeland Energy developed the COLT Hub, the leading crude oil rail, storage and pipeline system in the Bakken, selling it in 2012 to Inergy Midstream, L.P. (now Crestwood Equity Partners LP).

Adapted from press release by Francesca Brindle

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/24032016/rangeland-energy-initiates-steps-storage-system-2852/