Superior Energy Systems completes propane terminals in Arkansas, Oklahoma
Superior Energy Systems (SES) completed rail terminals for 4J Energy in DeQueen, Arkansas, and McAlester, Oklahoma.
The terminals each provide 90,000 gallons of on-site storage and will meet a strategic need for 4J Energy by providing propane to previously underserved markets, especially in the winter months. Each of the terminals includes two rail-unloading towers and one truck-loading station. The McAlester site allows transport trucks and bobtails to load on the truck scale, eliminating the truck weigh-in and out process and decreasing fill time. Both locations have the ability to fill a transport truck in about 25 minutes.
“We are excited to see these two terminals come online,” says Derek Rimko, vice president of operations for Superior Energy Systems. “Building two terminals simultaneously in different states can be challenging, but our engineering and logistics teams did an excellent job of managing these projects. 4J Energy is now able to serve two growing propane markets.”
A propane rail terminal commonly refers to a large propane storage facility that is designed and located to fill gaps in the supply infrastructure, helping to get propane where it needs to be. Superior Energy Systems engineers and builds fully automated, secure and safe propane terminals that play a crucial role in efficiently delivering propane to underserved markets, according to the company. The 4J Energy propane terminals are fully automated and can operate 24/7.
The Arkansas terminal operates alongside the DeQueen and Eastern Railroad, a Class III short-line railroad located in southwest Arkansas and owned by Patriot Rail Co. of Jacksonville, Florida. The Oklahoma terminal operates off the Arkansas-Oklahoma Railroad Co., a family-owned Class III railroad. In addition to offloading rail cars and loading transports, 4J Energy can use rail cars for additional propane storage when needed.
“We began testing the propane market in both the Arkansas and Oklahoma locations with a temporary transloader, which gave us the ability to gauge the demand in the area,” says Lucas Malicoate, director of mid-continent NGL and crude marketing for 4J Energy. “We then solidified the need and chose Superior Energy Systems for the terminal builds. They have been an excellent partner throughout the projects, and we are impressed with the quality of the terminals.”
4J Energy has extensive logistics and marketing experience with midstream solutions and over a century of experience handling multiple commodities, including propane. It has developed new energy market outlets in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
For more than 45 years, Superior Energy Systems has provided LPG and NGL systems and infrastructure solutions as well as safety and compliance training. It designs, engineers, constructs and services vaporizers and mixers, rail towers, metering and odorant skids, and standby fuel systems. It also has more than 1,600 autogas dispensers located across North America.