Keep it Offshore
Innovative Vapor Capture Technology
- Support vessel with vapor capture equipment connects to VLCC’s vapor return manifold
- Vapors are captured and compressed into liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and stored on board the support vessel
- Thus, eliminating the venting of vapors to the atmosphere which occurs during the reverse lightering operations
- LPG is transported to shore and delivered into LPG pipelines or storage
- Vapor capture reduces emissions by 150% versus vapor combustion mounted on a platform
BWTX is better than reverse lightering
- 5 times less criteria pollutants (NOx, CO, SO2, particulate and GHGs)
- Total emissions by 94% versus ship-to-ship loading
- Safer, more efficient loading
- Reduces ship traffic
If built, BWTX would reduce the need for offshore reverse lightering operations.
BWTX is better for air quality
- Emissions from reverse lightering are not regulated by the EPA
- Most crude oil exports from the U.S Gulf Coast are loaded a second time without emissions control.
- This results in more NOx, CO, SO2, particulate, and greenhouse gas emissions per load.
BWTX will not impair regional air quality
- Project will meet all federal and state emission standards
- Project resubmitted EPA Air Permit to include vapor capture technology
- Even prior to adding the vapor capture technology, air modeling and other studies showed emissions from the project would not cause any exceedance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Attainment Status for ozone and particulates
- Coastal Bend Air Attainment Status will remain unaffected
- No negative health impacts
Oil Spill Prevention
Marine Safety is a Top Priority
Onshore and marine management systems and response plans will be in place to protect marine life from potential oil spills. BWTX will have:
- Monitoring 24/7 at Harbor Island operations facility
- Support vessel on-site while loading
- Immediate spill and fire response equipment/personnel
- Pipeline route shutoff valves & auto-shutoff hoses
- The MSRC Southern Responder is docked at Ingleside and ready to respond
Proven Experience
As a BWTX JV partner, Phillips 66 has proven knowledge of offshore port technology and 40 years of safe operations.
Since 1971, Phillips 66 has owned and operated the Tetney Monobuoy, located on the east coast of England at the entrance to the pristine Humber Estuary.
Regulatory Oversight
We understand that public approval depends on our ability to work in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.
Selecting Offshore Corpus Christi
Careful consideration was given in selecting BWTX sites for onshore, inshore and offshore project components. We performed extensive surveys to avoid impact to the environment and were deliberate in regard to the use of best available technologies.
We designed our project to minimize the impact on the environment, wildlife, and cultural resources including:
- Careful consideration selecting locations for all project components.
- Followed existing right of way pipeline easement corridors.
- Utilize Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) limiting disturbance of environmentally sensitive areas.
- Innovative vapor capture technology to reduce total emissions by 94% compared to reverse lightering.
MARAD Process
The rigorous, federally regulated process is expected to take at least one year to complete and will include specified opportunities for public comments. Extensive community consultation is a key component of the overall permitting process. BWTX could be online in 18-24 months following receipt of regulatory approvals and necessary commercial support.
