EPA grants air permit for Sentinel Midstream export port

The Environmental Protection Agency has granted the air permit for the Sentinel Midstream export port. It’s rare for Americans to learn from their European counterparts and produce some innovative technology that propels the industry forward in ways never seen before in the American energy sector. But that is precisely what has happened off the coast of Texas. The air permit in question, or the Clean Air Act (CAA) permit, as it’s more commonly known, provides offshore companies the final approval to operate safely in a region and does not affect the quality of the air that is crucial to life.

The Environmental Protection Agency has praised the Texas GulfLink’s innovative usage of technology

The EPA issued the CCA permit for the proposed offshore Texas GulfLink (TGL) deepwater port following the announcement by the site’s operator that it would make use of innovative technology currently being used in the North Sea by its European counterparts. American energy companies rarely make significant changes to their operational procedures, but in this case, they have taken it beyond what was currently being used in the energy sector.

TGL’s proposed deepwater port, about 30 miles southeast of Freeport, Texas, will be the first site in US history to use vapor capture and control technology mounted on an offshore support vessel. Which could prove to be revolutionary in the US energy sector. We can almost hear the engineers and scientists shouting “EUREKA!”

“In issuing the first Clean Air Act deepwater port permit since President Trump returned to office, EPA is keeping its promise to unleash American energy dominance and economic prosperity. By applying proven technology in an innovative way, this project will increase energy production while fulfilling EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.” – EPA Regional Administrator Scott Mason

Sentinel Midstream has praised the EPA for its support and leadership in the project

The EPA played a crucial role in advancing the project to the point where the permit could be issued. The permit, formally known as a combined synthetic minor New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction and Title V operating permit, covers all aspects of the project, such as monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements, including semi-annual and annual compliance certifications to ensure compliance with federal standards.

The CAA permit advances the use of an offshore support vessel to control volatile organic compound emissions at a deepwater port. And will most certainly boost the coal sector, which has seen a year-to-date rise in coal usage.

“Sentinel Midstream is proud to unveil a groundbreaking vapor control application that will revolutionize the loading of Very Large Crude Carriers in the Gulf of America. Developed by our Texas GulfLink team in close collaboration with the EPA, this innovative approach significantly reduces volatile organic compounds, setting a new industry standard for environmental performance and advances the implementation of Best Available Control Technology. We are especially grateful to Regional Administrator Mason for his leadership and to his team for their steadfast support in helping make this achievement possible,” – Jeff Ballard, Chief Executive Officer of Sentinel Midstream.

The innovative use of the technology could be a groundbreaking move by Sentinel Midstream

The fact that Sentinel Midstream is making use of existing technology in a very innovative manner points to the fact that the energy sector is evolving past the point of no return. The port off the shores of Texas will be capable of loading very large crude carriers up to 85,000 barrels per hour, or 365 million barrels a year. That’s a whole lot of crude oil, which is vital for the American energy independence goals set out by the Trump administration, by the new executive orders signed into law by the President.