TEPPCO Partners returns service to systems affected by Hurricane Rita
  by: OilOnline
  Tuesday, September 27, 2005

TEPPCO Partners, L.P. has reported that assessments of the company's Gulf Coast area facilities show minimal impact from Hurricane Rita. The company shut down several of its pipeline systems late last week in anticipation of the storm.

The 350,000 barrel per day capacity Seaway Crude Pipeline, from the Texas Gulf Coast to Cushing, Okla., resumed full operation on Sept. 25, 2005, after assessments of the Texas City, Texas, and Freeport, Texas, marine terminals. The company's South Texas system, which primarily delivers crude oil to Houston area refineries, is also operational.

TEPPCO's 110,000 barrel per day capacity, 14-inch and 16-inch diameter pipelines, which primarily deliver distillates and gasoline from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Midwest resumed pumping from the company's Baytown, Texas, terminal at approximately 45 percent of capacity on Sept. 25, 2005.

The 230,000 barrel per day capacity, 20-inch diameter mainline system, which primarily delivers liquefied petroleum gases (LPGs) and gasoline from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Midwest, began pumping from the company's Mont Belvieu, Texas, storage facility at approximately 45 percent of capacity on Sept. 25, 2005.

TEPPCO's Beaumont, Texas, terminal and Newton, Texas, booster station are currently without commercial power. The company continues to work with utilities and government officials in an effort to restore power to these locations in order to resume operating TEPPCO's mainline refined products system at full capacity.

TEPPCO is making deliveries at all of its terminal locations with the exception of Todhunter, Ohio.