NGL Supply Co. Ltd. opens Ohio rail terminal

NGL Supply Co. Ltd. opened a propane rail terminal in Sycamore, Ohio, establishing another link in the industry’s natural gas liquids supply chain. NGL Supply completed the greenfield build at the northwest Ohio site in December.

NGL Supply has the capability to offload eight rail cars along a double-sided, custom-galvanized platform with a proprietary unloading-arm design. (Photo courtesy of TransTech Energy)

“In the market today, trucking is tight,” says Mark Mundy, vice president of logistics for NGL Supply. “Having a centralized terminal like Sycamore, where you can turn trucks two or three times a day, shows its value quickly.”

Mundy says the propane supplier, based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with offices in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and Denver, has grown on the terminal side, expanding across North America.

At the 180,000-gallon Sycamore terminal, NGL Supply has the capability to offload eight rail cars – at 1,500 gallons per minute (gpm) – along a double-sided, custom-galvanized platform with a proprietary unloading-arm design. The platform’s modular design enables the company to expand the platform as operational throughput is required.

The terminal also includes two truck-loading stations, which are fully automated and feature PLC safety controls, where trucks can load propane at 650 gpm.

The terminal is supplied by rail cars primarily from the Marcellus Shale region, but the dynamic market can force NGL Supply to source its propane from other regions, including from Edmonton, Mundy says. Propane customers in northern Ohio look to benefit from the new supply source.

Benko Products, TransTech Energy and Excel Loading Systems were among the partners teaming on the project. Their work included the design, fabrication and installation of the terminal so NGL Supply could unload propane from rail cars into storage tanks for local truck transport.

“The emphasis was on ‘we,’” says Christopher Roark, international sales manager for Benko Products’ Green Access & Fall Protection division, noting the successful planning and collaboration that took place among the companies. “It’s that level of trust and respect” that allowed the partners to use their resources to avoid roadblocks, reduce potential cost overruns and advance to operation in a timely manner.

NGL Supply also commended local county officials and township trustees for welcoming the development and understanding the permitting process.