Trinity Gas Storage Facility Comes Online in East Texas, Hedging Against Another Winter Storm Uri

     Back in 2021, I wrote about the tragedy of winter storm Uri in Texas which resulted in many people freezing to death. It was determined without a doubt that the Texas energy grid managed by ERCOT was inadequately prepared for such an extreme weather event despite warnings in reports that such a storm could quite possibly occur and that the Texas power grid and natural gas infrastructure were not prepared for it.

     According to the Texas Oil & Gas Association:

“Texas has 40 natural gas storage facilitates with 847 BCF of total underground natural gas storage capacity.”

     Company Trinity Gas Storage just put online the first new greenfield gas storage facility in Texas in over a decade in East Texas. This is slated to provide greater gas and electric reliability and resiliency for the region. The added capacity is 24 BCF which represents just under 3% of the state’s total gas storage capacity. However, Phase II is expected to be completed by 2026, increasing capacity and deliverability further.

According to Pat Eilers, Managing Partner and Founder of the project sponsor Transition Equity Partners (TEP):

“Adding roughly ten percent of new gas storage supply to ERCOT is consistent with TEP’s ‘Responsible Decarbonization™’ strategy, that ensures energy availability, affordability, reliability, and security, in addition to decarbonization benefits. Given market needs and the Phase II contracts we have executed, we plan to expand this facility and further deliver all of these important attributes to Texas.”

     According to Pipeline & Gas Journal, the ideally located facility will be key to local and regional reliability:

“The Trinity facility is well-connected to existing pipeline infrastructure and serves as a critical resource for balancing supply and demand during peak electricity periods.”

"The opening of the facility marks a significant achievement for Texas' energy security and electrical reliability," said Trinity CEO Jim Goetz. "The overwhelming support from both our investors and our customers highlights the vital role this facility plays in providing secure and reliable services to Texas' gas market."

     The graphics below from Trinity's website show some of the project specs in terms of capacity, deliverability, and flexibility.

 

 

 

References:

 

East Texas Gas Storage Facility Begins Operations, Strengthening Texas Energy Grid. Pipeline and Gas Journal. January 16, 2025. East Texas Gas Storage Facility Begins Operations, Strengthening Texas Energy Grid | Pipeline and Gas Journal

Trinity Gas Storage Facility in East Texas Comes Online, Enhancing State Energy Security and Reliability. Press Release. Trinity Gas Storage. January 16, 2025. Trinity Gas Storage Comes Online | Trinity Gas Storage