Phillips 66 is planning to build a 100,000 b/d fractionator in Old Ocean, TX. The plant will alleviate congestion in Mont Belvieu and add an outlet for Y-grade NGLs from the Eagle Ford. The plant will be located near the company's Sweeney Refinery and will have access to Gulf Coast petrochemical customers and the Month Belvieu distribution network.

Fractionators are used to separate NGL production into its various components (ethane, butane, propane, etc.).

“This project would enable us to take advantage of strong existing midstream transportation and storage infrastructure along with demonstrated operations excellence,” said Phillips 66 Chairman and CEO Greg Garland. “We see excellent market-facing opportunities to grow the natural gas liquids business, and the chance to supply purity NGLs and liquefied petroleum gas to the petrochemical industry and heating markets.”

Phillips 66 is currently seeking interest from suppliers of Y-grade NGLs.

The plant will also create even more Texas oilfield jobs. Hundreds of construction workers will be needed and 25 full-time positions will be created to run the plant. Construction should begin in early 2014 and the plant should be in service in late 2015.

Phillips already owns fractionation capacity in the Gulf Coast, at Mont Belvieu, and in Conway, Kansas.

Read more at Phillips66.com