MTBE movements between Texas Gulf Coast plants to be enhanced

Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Co. (Teppco), Houston, has begun construction of its 'shuttle' pipeline, a 10-mile, 6 and 8-in. line to move methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) between producers and refiners along the Houston Ship Channel. The line will flow from the western edge of Shell's refinery eastward to storage facilities at Teppco's Baytown terminal. The shuttle pipeline anticipates the U.S. requirement for oxygenated gasolines that takes effect Nov. 1. Approximately 70% of the available U.S. merchant capacity for MTBE is located along the shuttle's path, Teppco says