LOOP is the only port in the U.S. capable of offloading a wide range of vessels including Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCC) and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) down to Medium Range (MR) Tankers. The port consists of three single-point mooring buoys used for the offloading of crude tankers and a marine terminal consisting of a two-level pumping platform and a recently replaced three-level control
platform. The Clovelly Hub is located twenty-five miles inland, and is connected to the port complex by a 48-inch diameter pipeline. The Clovelly Hub provides interim storage for crude oil before it is delivered via connecting pipelines to refineries on the Gulf Coast. The oil is stored in eight underground caverns leached out of a naturally occurring salt dome. The caverns are capable of storing approximately 60 million barrels of crude oil (a barrel of oil is equal to 42 U.S. gallons). In addition, LOOP has an above-ground tank facility consisting of fifteen 600,000 barrel tanks and seven 375,000 barrel tanks. Total crude oil storage in tanks is approximately 12 million barrels. Three pipelines connect the Clovelly Hub to refineries in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast. LOOP also operates the 53-mile, 48-inch pipeline that connects LOOP to the St. James, Louisiana industrial complex.
