Pennsylvania Relies on Energy.
We Deliver It Safely.
Pennsylvania Access
Pennsylvania Access provides an efficient, cost-effective way to provide the fuels on which Pennsylvanians rely every day.Pennsylvania Access is a new initiative for Energy Transfer that brings refined products from the Midwest supply regions through our existing Allegheny Access Pipeline System into Pennsylvania. Once in Pennsylvania, we utilize part of the existing Mariner East system to distribute the products throughout Pennsylvania and the Northeast markets.
Previously, Pittsburgh was the only market in Pennsylvania that benefited from access to refineries in the Midwest. The pipeline expands access to markets in central Pennsylvania, as far east as the Lehigh Valley. Currently, the Greater Reading and Lehigh Valley markets receive these products directly from “off-ramps” from the pipeline. In the future, additional markets will gain access through continued investment in the pipeline.
Using existing refined products pipelines and terminal assets, and incorporating refined products into the Mariner East system’s liquid fuels transportation capabilities, allows us to create an efficient, cost-effective way to move these products to meet consumer demand. This increased access should have a positive impact on winter fuel prices, further benefiting Pennsylvanians.
The first phase of this initiative involved changing the previous 8-inch Mariner East 1 line from Westmoreland County to Berks County from natural gas liquids (NGL) service back to refined products service, as it originally served until 2014. This transition extends our existing Allegheny Access System further eastbound from Pittsburgh.
Timeline and Activity
Initial volumes began flowing further eastbound from Pittsburgh into Pennsylvania and New York in January 2022. There was no new infrastructure built for the first phase of this initiative, and all of this work was done on property owned and operated by Sunoco Pipeline LP.
What Are Refined Products?
Refined products include gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil and jet fuel. The mix of refined products delivered via our pipelines varies seasonally, corresponding with peaks in demand for various products or with weather conditions.
We provide refined products transportation and terminalling services, as well as acquisition and marketing activities, to refined products markets in several regions of the United States via our integrated pipeline and terminalling assets. These assets include approximately 2,200 miles of refined products pipelines and approximately 35 active refined products marketing terminals with approximately 8 million barrels of refined products storage capacity.
How Will Pennsylvania Benefit?
The 2019 closure and sale of the PES Refinery in Philadelphia increased the need to import fuel from Canada, Europe and the U.S. Gulf Coast to supply East Coast markets. The pipeline greatly increases access to Midwest refineries, enhancing security of supply and helping to reduce overall fuel costs for Pennsylvania residents and businesses.
Completing Mariner East pipeline construction, transitioning to refined products service on the 8-inch pipeline and the ongoing NGL development at the Marcus Hook Terminal will together have a significant economic impact in Pennsylvania. Energy Transfer will continue to inject revenue, add jobs and generate tax revenue across the state, all while giving Pennsylvanians access to the fuels and products they depend on.
Pipeline Safety
Energy Transfer employs a comprehensive pipeline integrity program that focuses not only on safety but also on public awareness during every phase of pipeline construction and operations. It is our top priority to ensure that the 3,000 miles of pipeline infrastructure and gathering systems we operate in Pennsylvania safely traverse our neighborhoods and communities. We also closely coordinate with local first responders, school districts, townships and counties in the areas where we operate across the country.
Energy Transfer monitors more than 90,000 miles of pipeline via a computerized supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system on an around-the-clock basis, 365 days of the year, from our control centers. Our centers are staffed by highly trained pipeline controllers who have qualified as operators as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation. We also implement an integrity management plan (IMP) to maintain the structural integrity of all our pipelines. This includes periodic in-line inspections of our pipelines and corrosion control methods.
More information about safe pipeline operations and public awareness: