Meritage Midstream Services II announced in a June 23 release that the first crude oil unit train loaded at its Black Thunder Terminal departed on June 20 via the Union Pacific Railway. The Black Thunder Terminal LLC is a joint venture between Meritage Midstream and Arch Coal, and is served by Union Pacific and BNSF railways. The terminal is located at the Black Thunder mining complex in Campbell County, Wyo.

The 99-car train, bound for an East Coast refinery, is carrying 70,000 barrels (bbl) of crude oil for the terminal’s anchor shipper, Black Thunder Marketing LLC.

Phase I truck-to-train transload service became fully operational in March. The terminal has a current transload capacity of 10,000 bbl per day, with landing and loading space available. Construction of high-speed loading facilities for Phase II of the project is expected later in 2014. Phase II will include the additional of up to four 100,000 bbl storage tanks and a 15-car rack system able to load 15 to 18 cars per hour. Phase II construction is expected to be complete in 2015.

Meritage also announced the addition of Trevin Hogg and Richmond McGee to the company’s crude oil management team. Hogg joined as director of crude oil rail operations and marketing, with a focus on the operation and marketing of the Black Thunder Terminal and Black Thunder Marketing. McGee joined as senior crude manager, to assist Black Thunder Marketing with supply management and business development.