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Infrastructure Investments: Corpus Christi, Trois-Rivières

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NuStar Energy L.P. has completed construction of a private marine loading dock at its North Beach Terminal in the Port of Corpus Christi. The Trois-Rivières Port Authority (TRPA) is encouraged by the Canadian government’s unveiling on February 13 of the New Building Canada Plan, which allocates C$70 billion for public infrastructure over the next decade.  

NuStar Completes Crude Oil Loading Dock in Corpus Christi 

NuStar Energy L.P. has completed construction of a private marine loading dock at its North Beach Terminal in the Port of Corpus Christi.  Its first cargo of crude oil was loaded on a tanker on February 19. Originally scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of this year, NuStar expedited the project in order to meet strong customer interest in using the dock to transport shipments of Eagle Ford crude oil by water. 

With this new dock, NuStar now has three loading docks in the Port of Corpus Christi, and can load crude oil onto ships simultaneously at all three. NuStar also completed major additions and upgrades to the terminal’s pump systems. With all of these upgrades, the North Beach terminal’s marine loading capacity was more than tripled to 400,000 barrels per day. 

"The addition of the new dock and the related upgrades to our systems are critical to our Eagle Ford Shale strategy as it gives our customers even more options to move Eagle Ford crude by water," said NuStar President and CEO Brad Barron. "This additional capacity enables us to handle all of the new volumes associated with our ongoing expansion efforts in our South Texas crude oil pipeline system, as well as additional volumes shipped on our pipeline systems to Corpus Christi." 

The new dock project includes a series of 30- and 12-inch pipelines that move the crude oil from incoming pipelines or tanks within the terminal to the new dock, a metering system, vapor control system, and a dock structure with three loading arms. The dock system is designed to load Panamax-class vessels (which carry between 350,000 and 500,000 barrels) at rates up to 30,000 barrels per hour. The entire structure is supported by 73 concrete piles, each measuring approximately 120 feet. Each pile was driven about 70 feet into the bottom of the ship channel. 

NuStar Energy L.P., a publicly traded master limited partnership based in San Antonio, is one of the largest independent liquids terminal and pipeline operators in the United States. NuStar currently has 8,643 miles of pipeline; 89 terminal and storage facilities that store and distribute crude oil, refined products and specialty liquids; and 50 percent ownership in a joint venture that owns a terminal and an asphalt refinery with a throughput capacity of 74,000 barrels per day. 

NuStar Energy’s new Corpus Christi dock loads its first ship, the tanker Pennsylvania, on February 19. 
Photo/NuStar Energy

Trois-Rivières Port Authority Salutes the New Building Canada Plan

The Trois-Rivières Port Authority (TRPA) is encouraged by the Canadian government’s unveiling on February 13 of the New Building Canada Plan. 

The plan allocates C$70 billion for public infrastructure over the next decade. That includes a C$14 billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of a $C4 billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance and a C$10 billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, local or regional significance. Port authorities, such as TRPA, are identified among eligible recipients under the national infrastructure component of the plan.

The TRPA is working actively to implement Phase II of its strategic plan, On Course for 2020, which includes the reconstruction an old dock 13 and the construction of a new terminal, requiring the investment totaling C$26 million. Private investments towards handling and transport equipment will bring C$18 million. A consultant’s study commissioned by the port authority estimates the terminal will generate 302 direct and indirect jobs during construction and "tens of additional jobs" after it becomes operational.

"The announcement of this investment plan is encouraging and if the required financing is obtained, this terminal project will contribute to create great opportunities for local businesses," said Cléo Marchand, chairman of the TRPA board of directors. "It will also facilitate the emergence of new national and international markets, while helping generate local economic benefits and much-needed jobs during the construction and operation of the terminal, as projected in On Course for 2020." 
 

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