(Houston - January 13, 2009) Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE:PAA) announced today that C.S. "Dean" Liollio has recently been appointed to the position of President of PAA Natural Gas Storage, LLC, formerly known as Energy Center Investments, LLC. PAA Natural Gas Storage is a subsidiary of PAA/Vulcan Gas Storage LLC, which is owned 50% by PAA and 50% by Vulcan Capital.
Mr. Liollio has 25 years of experience in the natural gas business, most recently serving as President and CEO of EnergySouth, Inc., a NASDAQ listed company prior to its acquisition by Sempra Energy in October 2008. Prior to joining EnergySouth, Mr. Liollio served with Centerpoint Energy and its subsidiaries for approximately 23 years in various positions of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Division President and COO, Southern Gas Operations.
"We are pleased to welcome Dean to the PAA organization and look forward to his leadership as PAA continues to grow and expand its natural gas platform," said Greg L. Armstrong, Chairman and CEO of Plains All American. "Dean has a proven track record in the natural gas storage business and brings with him a wealth of experience and proven leadership qualities."
Armstrong noted that Mr. Liollio is supported by a strong team of experienced professionals at PAA Natural Gas Storage, including Richard Tomaski, Vice President - Commercial Activities and Dan Noack, Vice President - Operations & Engineering as well as John Reid, Vice President of Bluewater Gas Storage and Brad Ledbetter, Vice President of Pine Prairie Energy Center.
"I am pleased to join PAA Natural Gas Storage and I am excited about its future," said Dean Liollio. "PAA possesses what I believe to be an excellent platform for future growth. Our Bluewater storage facility in Michigan recently completed its fourth year of operations and continues to deliver reliable, high quality service to its customers."
"Our Pine Prairie facility is strategically located and is currently connected to seven large diameter pipelines in South Louisiana that serve highly populated markets in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast portions of the United States," continued Liollio. "A connection to an eighth pipeline is scheduled to be completed in the next several months. Pine Prairie began commercial operations on its first cavern in October 2008 and we anticipate commencing commercial operations on the second cavern in the second quarter of 2009. Leaching operations on the third cavern commenced in December 2008 and the cavern is expected to be in service in the second quarter of 2010. When the third cavern is completed Pine Prairie will have over 21 BCF of working gas capacity. Pine Prairie has the ability to be significantly expanded as market conditions warrant. Pine Prairie's expansion capability and connectivity to major interstate natural gas pipelines serving major U.S. consuming areas position it to become a key market hub for many years to come.
We have been charged to develop PAA Natural Gas Storage into a solid, stand alone business through organic growth, acquisitions and selected greenfield development projects. Richard, Dan and I look forward to working with the rest of the PAA team to capitalize on what we believe are attractive and complementary opportunities in the natural gas storage industry."
PAA Natural Gas Storage LLC owns, operates and currently has under construction an aggregate of over 46 BCF of natural gas storage capacity located at its Bluewater facility in Michigan and Pine Prairie facility in South Louisiana. The joint venture is also in the process of permitting an additional 24 BCF of high-deliverability salt-cavern storage capacity at its Pine Prairie facility.
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. is a publicly traded master limited partnership engaged in the transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of crude oil, refined products and liquefied petroleum gas and other natural gas related petroleum products. Through its 50% ownership in PAA/Vulcan Gas Storage LLC, the partnership is also engaged in the development and operation of natural gas storage facilities. The Partnership is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made herein are forward-looking statements. They include statements regarding the expected timing, capacity and benefits of the Pine Prairie facilities. These statements are based on management's current expectations and estimates; actual results may differ materially due to certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, unanticipated shortages or cost increases in power supplies, materials and skilled labor, weather interference with business operations or project construction, disruption of domestic and foreign natural gas supplies, regulatory uncertainties and other factors and uncertainties inherent in the marketing, transportation, terminalling, gathering and storage of natural gas, as well as those factors and uncertainties inherent in the Partnership's business as discussed in the Partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts:
Roy I. Lamoreaux, 713-646-4222 or 800-564-3036
Manager, Investor Relations
A. Patrick Diamond, 713-646-4487 or 800-564-3036
Vice President
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