US Agency Okays Oil Terminal Near Freeport

The Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT) has been green-lighted by a US agency that sites domestic shipping terminals. The approval came from the Maritime Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, on Monday after a three-year review. Enterprise, Enbridge and Chevron are partners on the project which will be go through the Southeast Texas island community of Surfside, near Freeport.

The plan includes building an oil pipeline from Harris County through Brazoria County, across vacant lots in the village of Surfside Beach and connecting to a deepwater port 27 nautical miles offshore. The Sea Port Oil Terminal will carry an estimated 2 million barrels of crude oil per day from the Permian Basin to fill the industry’s largest oil-carrying ships. A Seaside spokesman said the terminal will generate $6.4 billion in revenue per year for Enterprise and its SPOT partners Chevron and Enbridge. The project is expected to create 62 permanent jobs, plus up to 1,400 temporary construction jobs.