Moda Midstream announces Ingleside expansion and VLCC loading berth

Moda developed these upgrades to provide existing and potential customers the ability to safely and cost-effectively load VLCCs at rates of up to 80 000 bbls/hr.

“Today we are loading our fourth VLCC at MIEC since late December,” said Moda President and CEO Bo McCall. “With today’s commissioning of our upgrades to Berth 2A, we now have the US Gulf Coast’s most efficient crude export loading rates.”

Moda also announced it has commenced a further expansion of its docks, which originally were designed by the US Navy to support a battleship and aircraft carrier group. Upon completion, MIEC will have combined vessel loading rates of 160 000 bbls/hr and improved berthing efficiencies.

MIEC has worked with the US Coast Guard and the Aransas-Corpus Christi Pilots to ensure efficient transit times and safe berthing of vessels.

In addition, the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project, when completed, will increase the depth from 47 ft below mean lower low water (MLLW) to 54 ft below MLLW, which will allow for the loading of increased volumes on VLCCs at MIEC.

As part of the expansion programme, Moda has commenced construction of an additional 10 million bbls of crude oil storage. Substantially all of the new storage tanks will be placed in service throughout 2019, and the expansion will be complete by 2Q20. As part of the expansion, Moda has begun construction of a new manifold and interterminal piping to allow MIEC to receive direct ‘basin to berth’ deliveries from the Cactus II Pipeline, Gray Oak Pipeline and Epic Crude Oil Pipeline. These upgrades will be completed prior to the pipelines’ expected in-service dates. MIEC will be able to receive simultaneous deliveries from these three new ‘next generation’ long-haul crude pipelines at their full mainline rates.

Already one of the largest crude export terminals in the US, MIEC has approximately 2.1 million bbls of oil storage capacity and receives deliveries from the Cactus Oil Pipeline. MIEC has ample footprint for additional expansion opportunities.

Read the article online at: https://www.tanksterminals.com/terminals/29012019/moda-midstream-announces-ingleside-expansion-and-vlcc-loading-berth/