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 

 

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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. 

 

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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 1.5 miles from each SPM, a key feature of its industry-leading “safe-port design” concept 

  • The 1.5-mile distance between the fixed offshore platform and the SPMs ensures adequate clearance for the VLCCs during loading 

  • Texas GulfLink’s 1.5-mile distance is almost twice the minimum distance recommended by the American Bureau of Shipping 

  • Several leading energy companies internally mandate a minimum 1.31-mile distance to be considered a safe operating port