Energy Transfer Partners stands as a major player in the United States energy sector, providing a wide array of services across the energy value chain. Through its strategic operational segments, Energy Transfer Partners facilitates the transportation, storage, and processing of various energy commodities. This article delves into the core operations of Energy Transfer Partners, offering a detailed look at its infrastructure and the diverse services it provides to the American energy market.
Key Operational Segments of Energy Transfer Partners
Energy Transfer Partners organizes its extensive operations into several key segments, each focusing on a specific area of energy services. These segments demonstrate the breadth and depth of the company’s involvement in the energy industry.
Intrastate and Interstate Transportation & Storage
A cornerstone of Energy Transfer Partners’ operations lies in its vast network of natural gas pipelines and storage facilities. The company boasts a significant infrastructure for both intrastate and interstate natural gas transportation. With approximately 12,200 miles of intrastate pipelines and a more extensive 20,090 miles of interstate pipelines, Energy Transfer Partners plays a critical role in moving natural gas across state lines and within states. This network is complemented by substantial storage facilities, ensuring a reliable supply of natural gas to meet fluctuating demands. Energy Transfer Partners directly sells natural gas to a diverse customer base, including electric utilities, independent power plants, local distribution companies, marketing firms, and industrial end-users, highlighting its pivotal role in the natural gas market.
Midstream Operations
The midstream segment of Energy Transfer Partners encompasses crucial activities related to natural gas. This includes operating natural gas gathering pipelines that collect gas from production sites, processing plants that refine raw natural gas, and treating and conditioning facilities to ensure the gas meets quality standards. Furthermore, this segment manages natural gas gathering, oil pipeline, and oil stabilization facilities, showcasing a diversified midstream portfolio that handles both natural gas and crude oil.
NGL and Refined Products Transportation & Services
Energy Transfer Partners is also a significant transporter and service provider for Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) and refined products. The company’s infrastructure includes approximately 5,700 miles of NGL pipelines, along with fractionation and storage facilities. These assets are vital for processing and storing NGLs, which are essential components in petrochemicals and fuels. In addition to NGLs, Energy Transfer Partners handles refined products, further diversifying its offerings in the downstream energy sector.
Crude Oil Transportation & Services
Crude oil transportation forms another substantial part of Energy Transfer Partners’ business. The company owns and operates an expansive network of approximately 17,950 miles of crude oil trunk and gathering pipelines. This extensive pipeline system supports crude oil transportation, terminalling, acquisition, and marketing activities. Energy Transfer Partners is actively involved in the crude oil supply chain, ensuring the efficient movement of crude oil from production areas to refineries and market centers.
Investments and Other Ventures
Beyond its core transportation and processing operations, Energy Transfer Partners holds strategic investments in Sunoco LP and USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC). These investments broaden the company’s reach within the energy sector. Sunoco LP, in particular, allows Energy Transfer Partners to engage in motor fuel sales and distribution under the Sunoco and EcoMaxx brands, extending its presence into retail markets. Additionally, through its “All Other” segment, Energy Transfer Partners engages in diverse activities such as natural gas compression, wholesale power trading, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide removal services, coal and natural resources management, timber sales, and oil and gas royalty collection, demonstrating a multifaceted approach to energy-related businesses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Energy Transfer Partners operates as a comprehensive energy service provider in the United States. Its extensive infrastructure and diversified segments across natural gas, NGLs, and crude oil transportation and services position it as a critical component of the nation’s energy infrastructure. From pipeline operations to strategic investments, Energy Transfer Partners plays a vital role in facilitating the energy needs of the US economy.
