EPA Approves New Emission Tech for TGL’s VLCC Port

HOUSTON, TX (DTN)  – The Texas GulfLink (TGL) said its upcoming deepwater port was licensed by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday (9/15) to use a first-of-a-kind vapor capture and control technology that sets new emission standards during loading of very large crude carriers (VLCCs).

With the Clean Air Act permit that allows the use of the technology, TGL will be able to load very large crude carriers up to 85,000 bbls per hour, or 365 million a year at the proposed deepwater port, while significantly reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds. “This project will increase energy production while fulfilling EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment,” EPA Regional Administrator Scott Mason said in a statement.

The EPA said it would be the first use of the technology alongside a very large crude oil carrier while it is being loaded and tethered to a single-point mooring buoy at a deepwater port. Similar technology has been used on shuttle tankers in the North Sea for over 20 years with over 96% emission-control efficiency.