In Texas, Every Little Bit Helps

摘要

To quote the frequently quotable Kelcy Warren during a recent network TV interview, "Every day storage is not filled is a day saved for the producer." He is, of course, right in his simple assessment, which probably would have faded from my memory almost immediately had the TC Energy CEO not referenced a strategy that might add a few days to what has stunningly become a zero-capacity timeline. "We are looking at just taking idle pipelines and putting oil in those pipes," Warren told the Fox moderator matter-of-factly. "Believe it or not, you can find a few million barrels of capacity doing that." Warren did not elaborate at the time of the broadcast, but it has since been learned his company is looking into idling two Texas pipelines - 2 million barrels of total storage - with that idea in mind. At press time, TC Energy was seeking expediated permission from the Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees pipelines in the state, to repurpose the pipelines. If all goes as TC Energy hopes, following the addition of a few pumps, the additional capacity will be available by early summer.