ARB Midstream LLC will build and operate a crude oil transloading terminal in the greater Denver-Julesburg (D-J) Basin, the company announced Sept. 24. The planned terminal, known as the Niobrara Connector, will be located in Weld County near Evans, Colo., and will be a purpose built crude oil unit train facility with service provided by the Union Pacific Railroad.

The facility is being designed to accommodate multiple grades of crude oil typical of production from the D-J Basin. It will have initial storage capacity of 200,000 barrels (bbl) with the option to expand to more than 400,000 bbl. It will also have three rail loops capable of handling full 120 tank car unit trains. Initially, the site will be able to receive crude oil from trucks, but pipe connections are planned for future construction. Rail loading capacity will be about 79,000 bbl/d of crude oil, with initial truck unload capacity of 35,000 bbl/d.

Operations at the terminal are expected to begin in first-quarter 2015, with full unit train operations available in late third-quarter 2015.