Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners said Monday it will expand its Appalachia-to-Texas ethane pipeline. The ATX pipeline of 1,200 miles transports ethane from Marcellus-Utica region of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to EPP’s natural gas liquids storage complex in Mont Belvieu east of Houston. Current capacity is 145,000 barrels per day, and Enterprise said it is “evaluating expansion alternatives that would increase capacity by 45,000 barrels per day.” The expansion is expected to be achieved through improvements and modifications to existing infrastructure. Expanded capacity is scheduled to be available by 2022. The Houston Chronicle said Enterprise handles 80 percent of U.S. ethane exports.
