NuStar (NS) Augments Permian Capacity, Boosts Crude Export

NuStar Energy L.P. (NYSE:NS) recently announced the completion of its three major pipeline projects to multiply the exports of Permian crude oil to Corpus Christi, TX and expand its refined products’ reach into northern Mexico.

In one of the projects, NuStar Energy expanded the Valley Pipeline System in South Texas, doubling its capacity to 90,000 barrels per day per an agreement with Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO). The deal requires diesel and other fuels to be shifted from Valero Energy’s Corpus Christi refinery to the storage tanks from where the same can be conveyed to northern Mexico.

Again, according to the pact with Valero, NuStar Energy reactivated its 11-mile, eight-inch refined products pipeline system — joining the Laredo Terminal in South Texas and the Nuevo Laredo Terminal in Mexico — and started transporting diesel to Northern Mexico. The task involved extension of Laredo Pipeline’s horizontal drilling project under the Rio Grande River for transferring refined diesel from Valero's Corpus Christi and Three Rivers, TX refineries to a storage terminal across the boundaries of Mexico.

Further, NuStar Energy brought into service an eight-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline that will be used for transmitting crude oil from a connection on the Plains Cactus II long haul pipeline in Taft, TX to the partnership’s terminal in Corpus Christi. NuStar Energy expects to construct an additional storage unit with 600,000 barrels capacity at the terminal, expanding the total volume to 3.9 million barrels by this year-end.

NuStar Energy CEO and chairman stated that all the projects are backed by prolonged assurances to loyal customers. Each project has been concluded on time and within the partnership’s spending plan.

Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks

NuStar Energy carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other top-ranked players in the energy space include BP (LON:BP) Midstream Partners (NYSE:BPMP) , Dril-Quip, Inc. (NYSE:DRQ) and World Fuel Services Corporation (NYSE:INT) , each carrying the same solid Zacks Rank as NuStar Energy. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

BP Midstream’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters.

Dril-Quip earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the previous four quarters.

World Fuel Services earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the last four quarters.

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