Baytown

New Permian Basin player Lotus Midstream LLC is saddling up with ExxonMobil Corp. and Plains All American Pipeline LP in their plans to move more than 1 million b/d of crude oil and condensate from West Texas to the Texas coast.Lotus, formed earlier this year with a $400 million commitment from Encap Flatrock Midstream, said the parties expect to form a joint venture and issue a final investment decision (FID) by the end of the year.

El Paso Energy Intrastate (formerly known as Channel)experienced a rupture of its 30-inch line Monday evening nearBaytown, TX, east of Houston. There was no fire, but a voluntaryevacuation of the area was conducted, a spokeswoman said. Oneinjury was reported as a result of the evacuation, and as of middayTuesday everyone had returned home except for two families whosehomes were damaged, she said. No service interruptions are expectedas all demands are being met through gas re-routing or fuelswitching, the spokeswoman said. The line probably will be returnedto service by the end of the week. It is owned 50-50 by El PasoEnergy and Enron Corp. and is operated by El Paso Field Services.