Sunoco’s Ethane Truck Rack Provides Local Alternative for Ethane Distribution

Sunoco Partners Marketing and Terminals announced the commissioning of an ethane distribution facility on Monday, October 9, “establishing a new outlet for ethane from the Marcellus Shale” in conjunction with Gas Innovations.

In their press release, Energy Transfer Partners detailed that Gas Innovations had previously “purchased its ethane, as U.S. suppliers lacked the capacity to market ethane in smaller batches. ‘For us, it complements our product line with a safe, secure, quality solution to provide ethane to our unique customer base,’ said Ashley Madray, Vice-President, Gas Innovations. ‘We are proud to be the first company in North America to ship refrigerated liquid ethane by tuck.’ In addition to the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex, the Mariner East 2 pipeline, currently under construction, will provide ethane to fuel a new electrical generating facility currently under development in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the announcement, detailing that “Sunoco Logistics Partners LP has begun shipping ethane by truck from its Marcus Hook Industrial Complex to domestic markets, establishing a new outlet for ethane from the Marcellus Shale, and reinforcing claims that its Mariner East pipeline is not just about exports.” Natural Gas Intelligence also reported on the announcement, stressing that the Marcus Hook ethane distribution facility would provide “another outlet for natural gas liquids (NGL) in the Appalachian Basin”.

This development will bring opportunities to Pennsylvania and bolster regional energy independence and connectivity. Good times are coming for industrial and economic development in Pennsylvania and across the broader Appalachian region.