OREANDA-NEWS. Energy manufacturing and logistics company Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC, is launching an open season at 8 a.m. Central Time on Oct. 17, 2013, to assess firm customer interest to transport refined petroleum products from refineries and terminals on the south side of the Houston Ship Channel to the Magellan Midstream Partners and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners systems on the north side of the channel at Galena Park and East Houston. Interested customers must submit binding commitments by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Nov. 18th, 2013.

As part of this Cross-Channel Connector project, Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC is proposing to reactivate an idle section of 20-inch diameter pipeline under the Houston Ship Channel and expand an existing 20-inch diameter active line in Pasadena, Texas. This pipeline system is expected to increase access to products from refineries in the Houston area as well as inbound supply from Magellan’s Texas City pipeline system and Kinder Morgan’s Pasadena terminal.

Subject to sufficient and timely market commitments and receipt of the necessary permits and regulatory approval, the potential Cross-Channel Connector could be fully operational mid-year 2014. Not only would the Phillips 66 Pipeline project provide open access transportation to an additional cross-channel refined products pipeline, but it would also provide shippers the flexibility to move between several of the Houston Ship Channel’s largest refined products terminals.