Project Overview
Texas GulfLink, LLC is developing a crude oil export terminal approximately 30.5 miles off the Texas Gulf Coast that will be able to safely fully load tankers called Very Large Crude Carriers (“VLCCs”) to export crude oil to global markets.
With the lifting of the crude oil export ban in December 2015, the United States has access to new markets for growing U.S.-produced crude oil. VLCCs are the ideal tanker to serve these new markets, especially those in Asia, but their deep drafts make full loading at existing near-shore ports costly and less efficient.
Currently, most VLCCs are loaded by a process called “reverse lightering” in which up to four smaller tankers ferry crude oil to VLCCs anchored offshore, empty their tanks, and return to port to be loaded again. Texas GulfLink, by contrast, will load VLCCs and other tankers directly at the terminal. Texas GulfLink’s direct-loading capabilities of VLCCs and other tankers offshore will reduce overall emissions by approximately 86% when compared to the cumulative effects of reverse lightering. Texas GulfLink will also reduce the congestion at near-shore ports, delivering additional environmental benefits and improving safety.
Texas GulfLink’s more efficient loading process will be further enhanced by active vessel-based vapor recovery at the facility. A dynamic-positioned support vessel, the first of its kind in the United States and Jones Act compliant will pull alongside a VLCC under load and capture and condense volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) into a liquid that can be sold for industrial use. This process will prevent the emission of up to 19,000 tons of VOCs, which include hazardous air pollutants (“HAPs”), from the facility into the atmosphere annually.
Texas GulfLink is the only proposed offshore crude oil export terminal whose design complies with all current safe maneuvering guidelines for VLCCs at an SPM. Texas GulfLink’s navigation team, made up of marine experts with real-world experience operating deepwater ports, has devoted substantial hours and resources to ensuring that its deepwater port design was sufficiently safe and compliant with current guidelines, including maneuvering studies and simulations, confirming with multiple senior Master Mariner industry opinions, commissioning a Lloyd’s Register full port assessment, review of other Deepwater Port SPMs, and a close review of all Class, OCIMF, and PIANC guidance documentation. For more information, please see the “Safe Port Design Overview” section.
Texas GulfLink will deliver other benefits as well: By lowering the cost to export a barrel of American crude oil to a price that is more attractive to potential import customers, it will allow these customers to cut ties with rogue regimes that use their crude oil reserves to exert toxic political influence. Texas GulfLink’s less carbon-intensive platform will also help the United States reach the goals of the Paris Climate Accords and achieve “net zero” emissions. Further, Texas GulfLink will replace VOC-emitting lightering activity in near-shore ports with a loading process that takes place more than 30 miles offshore, leading to improved air quality in portside communities.
Texas GulfLink will also create a sizable economic benefit. In fact, based on an independent economic study, Texas GulfLink will generate substantial gains in US business activity including nearly $1.1 billion in gross product and thousands of jobs during the construction phase. Following construction, Texas GulfLink will provide long-term, high-paying American jobs while simultaneously enhancing the national security of the United States and allies around the world.
Texas GulfLink’s onshore terminal will be located near Jones Creek in Brazoria County, Texas, and will consist of above-ground geodesic dome storage tanks that will receive crude oil from the Houston market via an inbound 36-inch onshore pipeline. Crude oil will be pumped from the storage tanks to the offshore terminal via a 42-inch outside diameter pipeline that will terminate at one of two Single Point Mooring (“SPM”) buoys located approximately 32 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. VLCCs will moor to the SPMs and be loaded with up to two million barrels of crude oil in a single load. A support vessel will perform vapor recovery operations during loading. A fixed offshore platform located approximately 1.25 nautical miles from the SPM buoys will be manned to provide round-the-clock port monitoring, custody transfer metering, and surge relief to ensure that the port is operated at the highest standards of safety.
Texas GulfLink applied with the Maritime Administration (“MARAD”) for a license to construct, own, operate, and decommission the crude oil export terminal on May 30, 2019. The Texas GulfLink team is working diligently with MARAD, the United States Coast Guard (“USCG”), and other federal, state, and local agencies to ensure the application is timely processed. Texas GulfLink’s application and other relevant filings can be found online here.
The above image is a not-to-scale illustration. Click to enlarge.
The above image is a not-to-scale illustration of the onshore and offshore components of Texas GulfLink. Click to enlarge.
About Us
Texas GulfLink will transport a valuable American resource, creating jobs, employing local companies, and supporting Texas communities.
The Texas GulfLink team has more than 300 years of combined experience including midstream and offshore port operations. These industry professionals have been directly involved in designing, constructing, operating, and leading organizations that safely store and transport large volumes of crude oil offshore to a deepwater port to load VLCCs and other tankers at an SPM. Coupled with the financial backing of a private equity fund dedicated to investing in the energy midstream space, who also have extensive operating and management experience, the team is uniquely positioned to take Texas GulfLink through permitting and construction, to full operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and Answers about Texas GulfLink
Is Texas GulfLink Safe?
Safety for employees, the community, and the environment is our number one priority. Texas GulfLink was designed and will be constructed with safety in mind. In fact, Texas GulfLink was designed to comply with current marine safety and maneuvering guidelines. No other proposed deepwater export facility designed for VLCCs can say the same. Once constructed, Texas GulfLink will be operated by qualified personnel who are thoroughly trained in operational safety and emergency response and equipped with the latest monitoring and control technology.
Texas GulfLink commissioned and shared the findings of numerous independent studies with MARAD, USCG, and other agencies to ensure that all health, safety, and environmental impacts are considered.
How will Texas GulfLink be Funded?
Texas GulfLink will be funded by institutional investors with strong credit ratings and a history of investing in large infrastructure projects.
Is Texas GulfLink Drilling for Oil?
Texas GulfLink will not drill for crude oil or any other natural resource. Texas GulfLink will only provide the infrastructure needed to allow VLCCs and other tankers to export domestic crude oil.
How does Texas GulfLink Impact the Wetlands?
Texas GulfLink is mindful of the project’s impact on local ecology. Texas GulfLink actively worked with various state and federal agencies to complete extensive environmental and wildlife impact analyses. Texas GulfLink will employ construction and installation methods to mitigate impacts to wildlife and wetlands.
How do we know the Pipeline will be Safely Built and Operated?
Pipelines are the safest and most efficient method of transporting natural resources.* Pipelines are also more environmentally friendly than other modes of transport such as trains and tanker trucks.* There are over two million miles of active pipelines across the United States, all carefully regulated according to state and federal safety standards.
(*) Source: United States Department of Transportation, available at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/faqs/general-pipeline-faqs (last accessed May 26, 2023)
Our qualified engineering, construction, and operations personnel will meet or exceed industry and regulatory standards and employ state-of-the-art technology to ensure the pipelines will be safely built and operated.
What are the Economic Benefits of Texas GulfLink?
This project equals thousands of local and regional jobs and millions in new revenue by providing a new outlet for US-produced crude oil to be exported globally. More efficient access to international crude oil markets will help Texas GulfLink’s customers grow their revenue, benefiting both their bottom line and employees.
These economic impacts will go beyond Texas GulfLink. As with any new development of this scale, Texas GulfLink will indirectly benefit local and regional businesses in industries including construction, hospitality, food and beverage, transportation and logistics, and general consumer goods and services.
What are the Environmental Benefits of Texas GulfLink?
Texas GulfLink will reduce overall emissions by approximately 86% when compared to the cumulative effects of the existing VLCC loading process, reverse lightering. Certain emissions reductions achieved are equivalent to removing millions of vehicles from the road annually.
The reductions to carbon and other greenhouse-gas emissions are especially significant: Texas GulfLink will reduce carbon dioxide (“CO2”) and carbon dioxide equivalent (“CO2e”) emissions by approximately 83% when compared to the cumulative effects of reverse lightering. The reduction of carbon and other greenhouse-gas emissions will be a major step forward towards a low-carbon emissions future.
Texas GulfLink’s operation will also reduce the number of tankers and support vessels in already congested onshore ports. Fewer tankers and support vessels in these busy waterways mean fewer vessels sitting idle, burning fuel and emitting pollutants while waiting for ship traffic to clear.
Fewer tankers and vessels will also reduce the risk of collisions and the emission reduction will benefit local portside communities.
By performing vapor recovery, Texas GulfLink will offset additional emissions associated with VLCC loading activities. Texas GulfLink’s vapor recovery technology is designed to capture over 99% of VOCs. In practice, Texas GulfLink will offset up to 19,000 tons of VOCs per year from the facility. Aggregate emissions data is presented in the following chart:
Click to enlarge.
Data prepared by CK Associates. CK Associates is an industry-leading environmental consulting firm based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Prepared by Texas GulfLink with the assistance of Capt. Daniel Harris, Director of Marine Operations. Capt. Harris served for 18 years as the Mooring Master at a deepwater port and has an additional 20 years of experience sailing tankers worldwide. Capt. Harris has a U.S. Coast Guard Masters License Unlimited Oceans and is an Accredited OCIMF SIRE Vetting Inspector. Click to enlarge.
Safety
Texas GulfLink’s platform-to-SPM distance prudently addresses the risk element of the maneuvering area, unlike some other pending deepwater port projects, providing ample clearance for vessel movement before, during, and after the loading process. Texas GulfLink is the only pending offshore crude oil export project with a platform-to-SPM distance that complies with current marine safety and maneuvering guidelines, including the new 2023 guidelines. For more information, see the “Safe Port Design Overview” section.
Texas GulfLink will continuously monitor the pipeline and storage tanks with state-of-the-art leak detection technology comprised of mass balance software and real-time data from the SCADA system
Operations personnel will monitor and control the pipeline from an onshore control room 24/7/365
Offshore personnel will monitor the port 24/7/365 using state-of-the-art radar technology
The geodesic storage tanks at the onshore facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art fire suppression systems
Additional pipeline safety mechanisms will be installed near public roads, waterways, and railroad crossings
Pipelines will be fitted with remote-controlled motorized actuator valves that can be remotely closed to isolate pipeline segments as needed within minutes
Professional engineers and operations personnel have gone through rigorous health, safety, and environmental training with regular drills and simulations to mitigate possible risks
Continuous inspection, maintenance, and repairs will occur in accordance with industry standards and federal regulations to ensure the highest standard of operations
Onshore Terminal and Pipelines Overview
Texas GulfLink’s onshore terminal, located near Jones Creek in Brazoria County, Texas, will connect to existing crude oil supply sources upstream via a newly installed 36-inch pipeline
By utilizing existing pipelines to source crude oil supply, Texas GulfLink will minimize environmental and construction impacts
Texas GulfLink will utilize approximately 95% of existing pipeline right-of-way to minimize environmental impacts during new pipeline construction
The 36-inch pipeline will be capable of a maximum flow rate of 60,000 barrels per hour
The onshore terminal will have up to twelve geodesic dome storage tanks, each with cathodic protection, leak detection, and primary and secondary containment measures
Each tank will have a total shell capacity of 755,379 barrels
The onshore terminal will incorporate a 3-million-gallon detention pond to improve drainage
The onshore terminal will house five electric pumps
Click to enlarge.
An operations control center will monitor every area along the supply chain
A 24/7/365 operations control center will contain two manned consoles and a video surveillance system
The control room will be equipped with microwave communication between the control center and fixed offshore platform, all backed up by satellite systems
A SCADA system equipped with pipeline surveillance and rupture detection capability will be used
Texas GulfLink sought and implemented community feedback in its onshore terminal design
Lowered height of storage tanks by ten feet to reduce visual and lighting impacts
Added geodesic domes to storage tanks to mitigate onshore emissions
Reduced the number of storage tanks and pumps
Added a large detention pond to improve local drainage and provide a water source for the local fire department; pond will be capable of handling 3 million gallons of water, the equivalent of 4.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools
Relocated existing entrance to onshore terminal to mitigate traffic impact on local county road
Redesigned the location of electric pumps to mitigate potential noise impacts
Will plant mature trees to beautify the area and provide a visual and sound buffer; the rendering below illustrates the effect the trees will have on Texas GulfLink’s visual presentation
Before-and-after illustration showing effect of trees. Click to enlarge.
Offshore Terminal and Pipelines Overview
One 42-inch outside diameter crude oil pipeline will be constructed from the onshore terminal to a fixed offshore platform
The 42-inch pipeline route will run approximately 12 miles from the onshore terminal to the shoreline and approximately 32.5 miles from the shoreline to the fixed offshore platform
Texas GulfLink will utilize horizontal drilling where appropriate to avoid any surface impacts to the beach
The offshore pipeline will be buried a minimum of three to five feet below the mud line and a minimum of ten feet below the mud line in shipping fairways
The offshore pipeline will be coated in concrete to provide negative buoyancy and additional rupture protection
Click to enlarge.
Offshore loading will occur at two catenary anchor leg mooring (“CALM”) SPM buoys floating in approximately 105 feet of water
Each CALM SPM buoy will be anchored to the seafloor and will be capable of dynamic motion in all sea conditions
Two floating hose strings will be connected to each CALM SPM buoy and will be capable of loading rates up to 85,000 barrels per hour, which equates to approximately 24 hours for a single VLCC loading
Through its dual CALM SPM buoys, Texas GulfLink will be able to service approximately fifteen VLCCs per month or approximately 183 VLCCs per year
Dedicated support vessels will assist in offshore operations including tanker loading, vapor recovery, port security, etc.
Click to enlarge.
The offshore terminal will be manned by experienced marine personnel 24/7/365
The offshore terminal will include custody transfer with an automatic sampling system
The offshore terminal is equipped with surge relief and emergency response systems
The fixed offshore platform is self-contained with its own diesel generators for electrical power
Texas GulfLink’s fixed offshore platform is 1.25 miles from each SPM, a key feature of its industry-leading “safe-port design” concept
The 1.25 nautical mile distance between the fixed offshore platform and the SPMs ensures adequate clearance for the VLCCs during maneuvering and upset events.
Texas GulfLink’s 1.25 nautical mile distance exceeds ABS, PIANC, and Lloyd’s Register guidelines for exposed locations
Oil majors will conduct terminal risk assessment audits which Texas Gulflink’s maneuvering distance will be acceptable to their expectations and criteria. The new 2023 changes to the ABS and PIANC guidelines will be an element under review in considering the risk to a customer loading at Texas GulfLink.
Safe Port Design Overview
Texas GulfLink is the only proposed offshore crude oil export terminal whose design complies with all current safe maneuvering guidelines for VLCCs at an SPM.
Every aspect of the Texas GulfLink deepwater port has been thoughtfully designed by professionals and engineers with decades of relevant experience. Industry regulations, standards, and guidelines concerning engineering an offshore platform or pipeline pump station have existed for decades. Until recently, the same could not be said for how a deepwater port with integrated single-point mooring buoys (SPMs) was to be laid out. The offshore environment is dynamic and unpredictable, and oil tankers have gotten larger. That is why it is critical that any offshore installation be designed, constructed, and operated with the utmost care and consideration of the risks posed to the health and safety of the environment and the personnel involved.
Texas GulfLink’s team has significant experience operating offshore deepwater ports and have firsthand knowledge of those risks, including those associated with the navigation of VLCCs into and around the terminal. Texas GulfLink’s Director of Marine Operations, Captain Dan Harris, is one of the few licensed Mooring Masters in the U.S. who has considerable experience with SPM mooring and unmooring VLCCs at a deepwater port, having done so safely and without incident for over 18 years at Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (Loop).
With an increase in deepwater port applications to obtain a license, industry associations, international classification societies, and certifying entities have begun to develop guidelines for the design specifications around deepwater ports relative to the overall layout, particularly in unprotected offshore waters. Considering the complexities involved in safely operating a 1,100 ft long vessel laden with 2,000,000 barrels of crude oil around fixed offshore objects (like manned platforms), well-informed safe operation guidelines and their operational compliance are critical.
As originally conceived, Texas GulfLink developed its “Safe Port Design”, which includes installing its two SPMs at a distance of 1.25 nautical miles (1.5 miles) from its manned platform and 1.32 nautical miles apart from each other. This distance provides sufficient clearance for the VLCC not only as it weathervanes around the SPM during loading (its “swing circle”), but also during departure from the SPM when the VLCC is laden and slow to react, gain steerage, headway, and counter the forces acting on the massive underwater hull.
The “maneuvering area” is the area through which a vessel is to maneuver in making an approach to or a departure from the SPM. A radius extending outward from the center of the SPM is used to indicate the distance measurement of the maneuvering area. When designing the layout of a deepwater port with SPMs and other fixed structures, the importance of getting the maneuvering area right cannot be overstated. The “minimum maneuvering area” (MMA) for an SPM port design is dependent on environmental conditions and vessel class. For example, SPMs that will service VLCC Class Tankers (1,100 ft) need more clearance (and thus will have a bigger MMA) than SPMs that will service Aframax class tankers (735 ft). For that reason, industry guidance includes a multiplier on the length of the largest mooring vessel when calculating MMA.
Figure 1 OCIMF GOTO Publication. Click to enlarge.
Texas GulfLink’s navigation team, led by Captain Harris, has devoted countless hours and resources to ensuring that its deepwater port design was sufficiently safe and compliant with all current guidelines, including commissioning maneuvering studies and simulations, consulting with multiple senior Master Mariners, obtaining a Lloyd’s Register full port assessment, reviewing other existing Deepwater Port SPMs, and closely reviewing all Class, OCIMF, and PIANC guidance documentation and updates. Texas GulfLink ultimately settled on a 1.25 nautical mile distance between its platform and its SPM, which was determined to be beyond the calculated MMA for Texas GulfLink’s proposed location in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico.
U.S. Coast Guard regulations define “exposed waters” as more than 20 nautical miles offshore and which presents special hazards due to weather or other circumstances. Within the industry, exposed waters are also referred to as unprotected waters or waters exposed to extreme sea conditions. In those environments, breakaways at SPM deepwater ports will occur from time to time and port designs must account for this and other upset events. LOOP experienced one in April 2021 from a sudden unforeseen severe weather event when a VLCC broke away. In 1989, Exxon Houston broke away from the Barber’s Point, HI SPM terminal as well.
As proposed, Texas GulfLink’s 1.25 nautical mile distance between its platform and SPMs puts its manned platform well outside the 1.1 nm MMA calculated using all applicable guidelines and industry standards for loading VLCCs at Texas GulfLink’s location. Below is a summary of those guidelines and standards:
Click the image to enlarge.
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Rules for Building and Classing Single Point Moorings – Rule 3.5 Maneuvering Area (2023)
(Please see Part 3, Chapter 1, Section 2, Page 19)
ABS’s rule on maneuvering area distance was amended effective January 1, 2023, to provide that the maneuvering area (previously 3x the length of largest vessel, plus hawser length and maximum buoy offset) is to be “increased substantially to account for an additional safety allowance necessary for safe vessel maneuvering” when SPM is used in offshore exposed waters. For deepwater ports proposing to load VLCCs in protected waters, the MMA is approximately 0.65 nautical miles; however, deepwater ports in unprotected offshore environments should be increased substantially beyond 0.65 nautical miles taking into account potential extreme weather and sea conditions. Rule 3.5 further makes clear that “Fixed obstacles such as platforms or buoys, other than the mooring, are not to be anywhere within the maneuvering area.” Texas GulfLink’s 1.25 nautical mile platform-to-SPM distance complies with the new ABS rule.
ABS is a global leader in providing classification services for marine and offshore assets and is one of the leading certifying entities for the U.S. Coast Guard.
PIANC WG-200 Report - Recommendations for the Designs and Assessment of Single-Point (SPM) and Multi-Point Mooring (MPM) Facilities (2023) (purchase the full report here)
On March 1, 2023, PIANC, The World Association of Waterborne Transport Infrastructure, published a Working Group report (WG-200) to provide guidance on good “industry practice” and a uniform set of recommendations for the design, analysis, and maintenance of SPMs. The PIANC Report provides that “in nearshore and protected waters, the radius of the maneuvering area (and distance to danger line) is recommended to be at least four times the length of the operating tanker.” In offshore locations in exposed waters (>20 nm), the radius of the maneuvering area should be “significantly increased” beyond the MMA. Further, PIANC reports that “some operators will typically consider 1.2 nautical miles as the maneuvering area or greater to incorporate a safety margin factor into the maneuvering area radius.” Texas GulfLink’s 1.25 nautical mile platform-to-SPM distance complies with the new PIANC recommendation.
PIANC is a global organization providing guidance and technical advice for sustainable waterborne transport infrastructure to ports, marinas, and waterways, similar to the OCIMF.
Lloyd’s Register Port Assessment Report 2023
In 2023, Texas GulfLink consulted with Lloyd’s Register for a compliance review and safety audit of not only its safe port design but to provide an expert determination about the MMA for deepwater ports in offshore exposed waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Lloyd’s Register opined that under the applicable rules (ABS SPM Rules, PIANC WG200, and OCIMF SMOG), the MMA for a facility located in a similar Gulf of Mexico location as Texas GulfLink would be 1.1 nautical miles. Texas GulfLink’s 1.25 nautical mile platform-to-SPM distance complies with Lloyd’s Register’s guidance.
Lloyd’s Register is a global professional services company specializing in engineering and technology for the maritime industry and is one of the leading certifying entities for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Glosten – Northern Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Port Shallow Water Ship Simulation
In 2021, Texas GulfLink retained Glosten to model and simulate the movement of a VLCC with engine failure at a facility located in a similar Gulf of Mexico location as Texas GulfLink using the MMA calculated by ABS’s then-existing Rule 3.5 (0.65 nautical miles) for protected waters. Glosten’s simulations resulted in a conclusion that a 0.65 nautical mile maneuvering area was an unsafe distance in extreme sea conditions in an offshore environment and that the VLCC would strike the fixed platform under those conditions. Note: The reference to “shallow water” refers to the ratio of water depth to vessel draft. Glosten’s simulations support the need for a substantial increase in the maneuvering area distance beyond 0.65 nautical miles in offshore exposed waters.
Glosten is a worldwide full-service naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy recognized and respected throughout the maritime industry.
Economic Impact
Brazoria County is expected to see economic expansion over the next several years. The Perryman Group’s* baseline forecast indicates growth in real gross product at 3.76% per year, while employment increases at a 1.88% annual rate. The county’s population is forecast to expand at a 1.56% rate, resulting in a gain of more than 29,500 persons over the period.
(*) The Perryman Group is an economic research and analysis firm based in Waco, Texas. The firm has served more than 2,500 clients, including two-thirds of the Global 25, over half of the Fortune 100, ten US Cabinet Departments, and the six largest energy companies operating in the US. The input-output assessment system was developed by the firm more than 35 years ago and has been consistently maintained and updated. The model has been used in hundreds of analyses for clients ranging from major corporations to government agencies and has been peer reviewed on multiple occasions.
Click the image to enlarge.
Construction Impacts
As noted, the construction of Texas GulfLink includes the onshore and offshore terminals, related pipelines, and other infrastructure. The Perryman Group estimates that the construction of Texas GulfLink will generate gains in US business activity including nearly $1.1 billion in gross product and 11,825 job-years of employment when multiplier effects are considered.
For Texas, gross product is likely to rise by almost $844.4 million, with 9,302 job-years of employment. The gains in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA are estimated to be $751.8 million in gross product and 8,268 job-years of employment. The benefits to Brazoria County will likely include $494.1 million in gross product and 5,754 job-years of employment.
The Freeport area is likely to see an increase in gross product of $320.9 million and 3,788 job-years of employment. (The results for each geographic area are included in the subsequently larger areas analyzed.) Additional details are described in the table below.
Click the image to enlarge.
Operating Impacts
Once operational, Texas GulfLink will continue to generate a significant economic stimulus by providing jobs and purchasing goods and services. Direct employment and operations spending lead to ripple effects through the economy, and as wages and salaries are spent, further economic benefits are generated.
The ongoing benefits of Texas GulfLink once operational include an estimated $63.2 million to $106.2 million in gross product each year and 629 to 1,057 jobs (including multiplier effects). The increase in annual gross product for Texas range from $57.5 million to $96.7 million and 580 to 975 jobs. For the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA, the gains in the gross product range from $51.6 million to $86.7 million per year, as well as 515 to 866 jobs. Brazoria County is estimated to see an increase in gross product of $39.8 million to $66.9 million, with job gains ranging from 421 to 708. Economic benefits in the Freeport area are expected to range from $34.4 million to $57.8 million in yearly gross product and 363 to 610 jobs. Additional details are included in the table below.
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Texas GulfLink Corporate Officers & Directors
Jeff Ballard | President & Chief Executive Officer
Jeff founded Sentinel Midstream and has over 13 years of experience in the midstream sector. He has led the development and execution of crude oil infrastructure projects in various basins across the United States. Prior to founding Sentinel Midstream, Jeff served as the commercial lead at various industry leading midstream companies.
Blair Mathews | Chief Financial Officer
Blair has more than 13 years of financial and transactional experience in the upstream and midstream sectors. In his previous role, he led the acquisition and divestiture efforts of upstream and midstream assets across multiple areas in the United States.
Brad Ramsey | Chief Operating Officer
Brad Ramsey has over 28 years of engineering, construction and operations experience in the midstream and downstream energy sectors with Koch, Valero and NuStar Energy. As VP of Engineering for NuStar, Brad oversaw numerous operations in six countries constructing over 16 MMbbls of storage, unit train facilities, docks, pipelines and installation and operation of a SPM deep water facility in St. Eustatius, Netherlands.
Matt Eagan is an accomplished corporate counsel with over a decade of experience serving clients in the energy space. Prior to joining Sentinel Midstream, Matt served as Senior Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Summit Midstream Partners, LLC, where he managed commercial, dispute-resolution, corporate governance, regulatory, and human-resources matters. Matt also led Summit’s enterprise risk management program. Before joining Summit, Matt was an associate at the law firm of Baker Botts, LLP in Dallas.Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law.
Daniel (Danny) P. McRea, P.E. | Vice President of Business Development
Danny has over 20 years of experience in the oil & gas midstream industry. His primary focus is on developing business opportunities, customer relationships, contract negotiation, and M&A activities. Prior to Sentinel, he led commercial development efforts for crude oil gathering and transmission pipeline ventures at Enerfin Resources and Summit Midstream, after spending the first 13 years of his career in various engineering, construction, and operations roles at Genesis Energy and Air Liquide America.
Don Gideon | Vice President of Operations
Don has over 40 years of industry experience, production operations, maintenance, construction, and regulatory compliance. His experience includes projects with Kinder Morgan, Highland Partners, Magellan, Chesapeake, CenterPoint, Wildcat Midstream Partners, Ocelot Energy Management, and Easton Energy. Don’s Course Work and Training include Colorado School of Mines Gas Processing and University of Texas Petroleum Extension.
Keith W. Pollock | Director of Engineering
Keith Pollock has over 16 years of engineering, construction and project management experience including both onshore and offshore midstream projects along the U.S. Gulf Coast, in the Gulf of Mexico and abroad. As a Project Manager at Chevron Pipeline, Keith managed all major capital pipeline and off-plot facility projects for support of the Chevron-Phillips Chemical USGC Expansion project in Baytown, TX and Sweeny, TX.
Capt. Daniel Harris | Director of Marine Operations
Captain Harris has a total of 37 years experience with 18 years as Mooring Master at LOOP servicing VLCC where he has over 2000 moorings and experience with half a dozen loading operations.
Travis Grove | Project Manager
Travis Grove has over 14 years of domestic and international experience in the offshore oil and gas industry as a Field Engineer, Project Engineer and Project Manager. Travis has managed a variety of marine projects from pipeline installations to decommissioning of platforms, and most recently as the Lead Project Manager for the installation of an LNG terminal off the coast of Freeport, Jamaica.
Collin York has over 12 years of domestic and international experience in both offshore and onshore oil and gas construction, serving as a Field Engineer, Project Engineer, and Project Manager. Collin has managed a variety of construction projects including diving and pipeline installations, however, has been more specifically focused on offshore platform installation and decommissioning, and heavy lift and transport throughout his career.
Tyler M. Abadie, P.E. | Engineering, Operations, Regulatory Compliance
Tyler served as engineering and operations lead for Harvest-Marks Pipeline, a private equity joint venture in Southeast Louisiana. Tyler worked directly for ownership and managed day-to-day operations, capital projects, new producer connections, SCADA monitoring, DOT compliance.
Phillip A. Plaisance | Operations, Oil Movements and Crude Quality Specialist
Prior to joining the team, Phillip served as Manager of Oil Movements at LOOP for 19 years, managing the scheduling department and the operations control center handling over 1.3 MMbbls/d.
Kyle M. Lawson | Finance, Commercial, and Risk Management
Before joining the team, Kyle served in various roles at LOOP for a total of 10 years including business development, operations, accounting and financial reporting.
Edwin M. Stanton, CAPT, USCG (Ret) | Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
Captain Edwin Stanton is retired United States Coast Guard where he was responsible for the management of port safety and security for LOOP as the Commander Sector New Orleans, Louisiana. He was also responsible for the development and implementation of oil, hazardous materials and emergency management response policy.
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