If the shale boom is ushering in a U.S. energy renaissance, then perhaps the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, will be the Florence of the era.

The port, establishing itself early as the leader in U.S. crude oil exports, seeks a major expansion to deepen and widen its channel to be able to handle larger tankers. It is also primed to be a terminal for LNG when Cheniere completes the first two trains at its nearby facility.

In this month’s Midstream Connect, Jarl Pedersen, the port’s chief commercial officer, discusses the facilities plans and what it takes to be competitive in the oil and gas export sector.