***Indicates
material has been omitted pursuant to a Confidential Treatment
Request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A
complete copy of this agreement will be filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
FORM OF STORAGE LEASE
(Enterprise Fractionation Plant)
This is a Storage
Lease (the “Lease”) between MONT BELVIEU CAVERNS,
LLC with an address at P.O. Box 4324, Houston, Texas 77210-4324
(“Lessor”) and ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING,
L.P. , (“Joint Owner”), with an address at P.O. Box
4324, Houston, Texas 77210-4324.
1. Term;
Quantity; Product.
For an initial
term commencing February 1, 2007 and ending December 31,
2016 (the “Initial Term”), Lessor leases to Joint Owner
storage space of up to *** barrels of Raw Mix, and *** barrels of
purity ethane, propane, commercial ethane, isom grade butane
(“Isom Grade”), isobutane, natural gasoline, and
petrochemical grade natural gasoline (collectively referred to as
“Product” in this Lease) at Lessor’s underground
storage wells, located near Interstate 10 and State Highway 146 at
Mont Belvieu, Texas, subject to the terms, provisions, and
conditions contained herein. For purposes of this Lease, a
“barrel” of Product is equal to 42 U.S. gallons of
equivalent liquid volume at 60 ° Fahrenheit.
Each twelve
(12) month period between January 1 and the following
December 31 shall be referred to herein as a “Lease
Year”. This Lease shall continue from year to year following
the expiration of the Initial Term, unless either party terminates
this Lease by giving written notice to the other party at least
ninety (90) days prior to the beginning of any ensuing Lease
Year.
Lessor operates
storage wells in which various types of products are stored other
than the types of Product covered by this Lease. Lessor’s
storage wells are connected to centrally located pipeline header
facilities operated by Lessor on its property in the vicinity of
said storage wells. All Product delivered by Joint Owner into or by
Lessor out of storage must be delivered by pipeline to such header
facilities, and all such deliveries shall be deemed a delivery into
or out of storage for the purposes of computing all applicable
charges under this Lease. As between Lessor and Joint Owner,
control of Lessor’s facilities will rest exclusively with
Lessor.
3. Product
Specifications.
Each Product
delivered by Joint Owner into storage or by Lessor from storage
must meet the respective specifications set out in Exhibit
“A” attached hereto and made a part hereof. Lessor
reserves the right to modify, add to, or revise such specifications
at any time and from time-to time upon giving not less than thirty
(30) days prior written notice.
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
1
4. Isom
Grade Butane; Analysis and Certification.
Prior to each
delivery of Isom Grade by or on behalf of Joint Owner into storage
hereunder, Joint Owner agrees to certify to Lessor the quality of
the butane to be delivered and to furnish to Lessor a laboratory
analysis of the butane to be delivered to Lessor for storage at
least forty-eight (48) hours prior to delivery. The laboratory
analysis shall be in form satisfactory to Lessor, shall employ the
test methods specified on Exhibit “A”, and shall show
the levels, if any, of the components listed on Exhibit
“A”. If (i) a laboratory analysis required under
this paragraph is not timely received by Lessor; (ii) the
laboratory analysis received is not in a form acceptable to Lessor;
or (iii) the laboratory analysis shows the butane to be
delivered does not meet the specifications for Isom Grade, Lessor
has the right to refuse receipt of the butane. Also, if, at any
time during Joint Owner’s delivery of Isom Grade, the butane
being tendered ceases to conform to the specifications for Isom
Grade, Lessor will stop receiving the butane tendered for storage,
until such time as the tendered product can be shown to again meet
the Isom Grade specification.
5. Product
Deliveries and Receipts.
It shall be
Joint Owner’s responsibility to make all arrangements
necessary to deliver Product for storage and to receive Product
from storage at Lessor’s header facilities, and to pay any
charges imposed by any party for the collection, transfer, and
injection of Joint Owner’s Product to such header facilities
for delivery into storage or from such header facilities for
delivery out of storage under this Lease. The flow rates into and
out of storage are subject to Lessor’s scheduling and
operational restrictions.
6. Delivery
Restrictions; Allocation.
If
Lessor’s scheduling or operational restrictions will not
permit all of the parties (including Lessor) storing any types of
products in any of Lessor’s storage wells to deliver or
receive the volumes of Product requested, then Lessor may allocate
among such parties Lessor’s available flow rates in a fair
and equitable manner as determined by Lessor.
7.
Commingling; Sampling.
Lessor shall
have the privilege of commingling Joint Owner’s Product with
Product of other parties and is not obligated to redeliver to Joint
Owner the identical Product received from Joint Owner. Lessor shall
have the right to sample all Product to be delivered for storage
and may refuse to accept delivery of any Product if the Product
does not meet the required specifications or, if in Lessor’s
opinion, satisfactory control of Product specifications will not be
maintained during delivery. At Lessor’s request, Joint Owner
shall provide Lessor access to the Product to be delivered for the
purpose of sampling and provide Lessor representative samples of
such Product.
At
Lessor’s sole discretion, Lessor shall have the option to
blend Joint Owner’s Product that fails to meet the Product
specifications with Product within Lessor’s facilities to get
Joint Owner’s
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
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Product back on
specification, or to deliver Joint Owner’s off specification
Product to Lessor’s off specification Product storage well
(the “Slop Well”) where the Product will reside until
such time as Lessor arranges for the Product in the Slop Well to be
sent to one of the Mont Belvieu fractionators for
fractionation.
Lessor will
continue to blend the off specification Product, or to make
deliveries to the Slop Well, only until the Product once again
meets the specifications in the attached Exhibit “A”,
or until such time as Lessor is notified by Joint Owner that other
delivery arrangements have been made for the Product and the
delivery of off specification Product to Lessor’s facilities
stops.
The fee for
receiving off specification Product into Lessor’s facilities
will be *** per barrel on each barrel received. Joint Owner will
share in any losses of Product from the Slop Well in proportion to
the amount of the off-specification Product that was delivered into
the Slop Well since the last time the Slop Well was emptied for
Joint Owner’s account hereunder.
If Joint Owner
elects to have the Products redelivered to Lessor’s
facilities following fractionation, all such receipts shall be done
under the terms of this Lease.
If it is
necessary for Lessor to pay any charges, including but not limited
to, fractionation fees, when the off specification Product is
delivered from the Slop Well and fractionated, Joint Owner will
immediately upon receipt of an invoice reimburse Lessor for any
such charges.
Measurement of
commercial ethane and purity ethane into and out of storage shall
be made in accordance with the procedures and methods set out in
Exhibit “B”. All Product gains and losses incurred
while the Product is under Lessor’s control shall be for the
account of Joint Owner except as noted in Section 12. For the
purpose of this subparagraph 8 (a), ethylene and up to 1.5% methane
shall be considered ethane. Any methane in excess of 1.5% will not
be balanced. Lessor shall return to Joint Owner a volume of
commercial ethane containing a quantity of ethane equal to the
quantity of ethane contained in the commercial ethane delivered by
Joint Owner for storage hereunder. If Lessor returns commercial
ethane to Joint Owner containing more or less propane than was
contained in the commercial ethane delivered by Joint Owner for
storage hereunder, Lessor and Joint Owner shall quarterly balance
any overages or underages of propane by the party having the
overage delivering to the other party a volume of propane equal to
the overage, which propane shall meet the specifications set out in
Exhibit “A”. Lessor shall submit to Joint Owner monthly
stock reports supported with appropriate receiving and shipping
information showing movements of commercial ethane and purity
ethane into and out of storage and the amount of commercial ethane
and purity ethane remaining in storage. All propane required to be
delivered to Lessor shall be delivered at the expense of Joint
Owner to Lessor’s pipeline header facilities at Mont Belvieu,
Texas, via one of the pipelines connected to such facilities. All
propane required to be delivered to Joint Owner shall be delivered
at the expense of Lessor to its pipeline header facilities at Mont
Belvieu, Texas. Propane may be delivered at
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
3
any other
delivery point mutually acceptable to the parties. For the purpose
of this subparagraph 8 (a) propylene and butane shall be
considered propane.
Measurement of
propane, Isom Grade, natural gasoline, and isobutane into and out
of storage shall also be made in accordance with the procedures and
methods set out in Exhibit “B”. All Product gains and
losses incurred while the Product is under Lessor’s control
shall be for the account of Joint Owner except as noted in
Section 15. Lessor shall submit to Joint Owner monthly stock
reports supported with appropriate receiving and shipping
information showing movements of propane, Isom Grade, natural
gasoline, and isobutane into and out of storage and the amount of
propane, Isom Grade, natural gasoline, and isobutane remaining in
storage.
Joint Owner
will not be credited for any volume of carbon dioxide held in
storage for Joint Owner by Lessor.
Any references
to percentages herein shall mean liquid volume percent.
Title to Joint
Owner’s Product shall remain at all times in Joint Owner.
Notwithstanding the return guarantee set out in subparagraphs 8
(a) and 8 (b) above, Lessor shall be responsible for the
loss of or damage to such Product only when and to the extent such
loss or damage is caused by the negligence of Lessor, its employees
and agents.
Joint Owner
agrees to pay Lessor for the storage, handling, and services of
Lessor an annual rental as set forth in the attached
Schedule 1. All minimum rentals are payable in full regardless
of whether or not Joint Owner actually uses the amount of storage
made available hereunder. All of Joint Owner’s Product must
be removed from storage no later than the last day of the term of
this Lease, subject to the payment of accrued rental and other
charges and the other terms, provisions, and conditions of this
Lease. The rate for storage of any Product remaining in storage
past the last day of the term of this Lease shall be *** per barrel
per month or any portion thereof, payable in advance on the first
day of each month in the same manner and at the same place as set
forth in Section 14.
An overstorage
charge of *** per barrel shall be charged for the total number of
barrels stored by Joint Owner at the end of any month that exceeds
the amount of storage space leased for each
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
4
specific
Product hereunder. Any excess storage acquired in this manner shall
be understood to be temporary only, and shall not constitute a
waiver of Lessor’s right to restrict storage to the amount
leased hereunder at any time thereafter, and Joint Owner shall
promptly remove any such excess Product upon Lessor’s written
request.
Joint Owner
shall pay all taxes, if any, levied or assessed on the Product
stored hereunder. In the event it becomes necessary for Lessor to
pay any such tax, Joint Owner shall immediately reimburse Lessor
for such amount upon receipt of notice of payment.
The total
minimum annual rental for storage is payable in equal monthly
installments during the term hereof, each of which installments is
due and payable in advance by Joint Owner at Lessor’s address
set forth on the face of each invoice on or before the first day of
each month. Lessor will also invoice Joint Owner each month for all
applicable throughput fees, overstorage fees and other fees or
charges during the term of this Lease.
Lessor shall
have a lien on all Product of Joint Owner stored hereunder to cover
any accrued and unpaid amounts payable hereunder and may withhold
delivery of any such Product until such accrued and unpaid amounts
are paid. If any such amounts remain unpaid for more than thirty
(30) days after they accrue, Lessor may sell said Product at a
public auction at the offices of Lessor in Houston, Harris County,
Texas, on any day not a legal holiday and not less than forty-eight
(48) hours after publication of notice in a daily newspaper of
general circulation published in Baytown, Texas, said notice giving
the time and place of the sale and the quantity and Product to be
sold. Lessor may be a bidder and a purchaser at such sale. From the
proceeds of such sale, Lessor may pay itself all charges lawfully
accruing and all expenses of such sale, and the net balance may be
held for whomsoever may be lawfully entitled thereto.
Any loss of
Product from Lessor’s storage wells for which Lessor is not
responsible shall be apportioned among all of the parties storing
such Product in such storage wells on the date of loss in
proportion to the amount of Product each such party has in storage
on such date. Product is not insured by Lessor against loss or
damage however caused, and any insurance thereon must be provided
and paid for by Lessee. Lessor’s liability, if any, for loss
or damages to the stored Product shall be limited to a maximum of
the monthly average NON TEPPCO price on the Texas Gulf Coast for
such Product on the date of such loss or damage as reported or
published by Oil Price Information Service (“OPIS”)
(the “Published Price”), or at Lessor’s option,
replacement of such lost or damaged Product in kind within
forty-five (45) days of such loss. If the Published Price is
not reported or published by OPIS for the date in question, the
parties will endeavor to promptly agree upon a fair market
value.
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
5
Lessor shall
not be responsible to Joint Owner for any loss of Joint
Owner’s Product, for any loss to Joint Owner resulting from
delays in returning Joint Owner’s Product when requested, or
for failure of Lessor to perform its obligations hereunder, due,
directly or indirectly, to acts of God or other causes beyond the
reasonable control of Lessor including, without limitation, storm;
earthquake; accidents; acts of the public enemy; emergency or
unplanned scheduling and operational restrictions; rebellion;
insurrections; sabotage; invasion; epidemic; strikes; lockouts or
other industrial disturbances; war; riot; hurricane; fire; flood;
explosion; compliance with acts, rules, regulations, or orders of
federal, state, or local government, any agency thereof or other
authority having or purporting to have jurisdiction; mechanical
failures or similar causes not due to Lessor’s fault or
negligence. The term of this Lease shall not be extended by the
duration of any force majeure, nor shall Joint Owner be excused
from making any payment due under this Lease. When claiming force
majeure, Lessor shall notify Joint Owner immediately by telephone,
and confirm same in writing, giving reasonable detail regarding the
type of force majeure and its estimated duration. The settlement of
differences with workers shall be entirely within the
Lessor’s discretion.
REGARDLESS
OF THE LEGAL THEORY OR THEORIES ALLEGED INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, THE NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER SOLE, JOINT, OR CONCURRENT) OF
ANY THIRD PARTY, JOINT OWNER HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND,
AND SAVE HARMLESS LESSOR, ITS PARENT COMPANY, PARTNERS (GENERAL OR
LIMITED), MEMBERS, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, SUCCESSORS, AND
ASSIGNS, INCLUDING ANY OFFICER, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE, OR AGENT OF ANY
SUCH ENTITY (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY CALLED
“INDEMNITEE”) FROM AND AGAINST ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, CAUSE
OF ACTION, DAMAGE, FINE, PENALTY, LOSS, JUDGMENT, OR EXPENSE OF ANY
KIND OF ANY PARTY (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY CALLED
“LIABILITY”), INCLUDING ANY EXPENSES OF LITIGATION,
COURT COSTS, AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES, RESULTING FROM,
ARISING OUT OF, OR CAUSED BY THE DELIVERY OF ANY PRODUCT BY JOINT
OWNER OR JOINT OWNER’S AGENT, CONTRACTOR, OR CARRIER WHICH IS
CONTAMINATED OR OTHERWISE FAILS TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS SET
FORTH HEREIN, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SUCH LIABILITY IS DIRECTLY
CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF AN
INDEMNITEE.
Notice of
claims by Joint Owner for any liability, loss, damage, or expense
arising out of this Lease must be made to Lessor in writing within
ninety-one (91) days after the same shall have accrued. Such
claims, fully amplified, must be filed with Lessor within said
ninety-one (91) days and unless so made and filed, Lessor
shall be wholly released and discharged therefrom and
shall
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
6
not be liable
therefor in any court of justice. No suit at law or in equity shall
be maintained upon any claim unless instituted within two
(2) years and one (1) day after the cause of action
accrued.
In no event
shall Lessor be liable to Joint Owner for any prospective or
speculative profits, or special, indirect, incidental, exemplary,
punitive, or consequential damages, whether based upon contract,
tort, strict liability, or negligence, or in any other manner
arising out of this Lease, and Joint Owner hereby releases Lessor
from any claim therefor.
All notices,
demands, requests, and other communications necessary to be given
hereunder shall be in writing and deemed given if personally
delivered, forwarded by facsimile (with proof of transmission and
answer-back capability), or mailed by either certified mail, return
receipt requested, or sent by recognized overnight carrier to the
respective party at its address below:
If to
Lessor:
Mont Belvieu Caverns, LLC
P.O. Box 4324
Houston, Texas 77210-4324
Attn: Director — Hydrocarbon Storage
Telephone: (713) 381-6554
Fax: (713) 381-6960
If to Joint
Owner:
Enterprise Products Operating
P.O. Box 4324
Houston, TX. 77210-4324
Attn: Mr. Rob Schaefer
Telephone: (713) 381-6588
Fax: (713) 381-381-7962
Neither party
shall assign any portion of its rights or obligations under this
Lease without the prior written consent of the other, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, either party
may assign this Lease to its parent corporation, a wholly-owned
subsidiary, to an affiliate, to a successor who acquires all, or
substantially all, of the assets of the assigning party, or, if a
party hereto is a limited partnership, to one or its limited
partners or the members of its general partner, without the consent
of the other party, provided that it remains primarily obligated
hereunder. This Lease shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto, their successors and
assigns.
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
7
21. Rules
and Regulations .
This Lease and
the provisions hereof shall be subject to all applicable state and
federal laws and to all applicable rules, regulations, orders, and
directives of any governmental authority, agency, commission, or
regulatory body in connection with any and all matters or things
under or incident to this Lease.
This Lease
embodies the entire agreement between Lessor and Joint Owner and
there are no promises, assurances, terms, conditions, or
obligations, whether by precedent or otherwise, other than those
contained herein. No variation, modification, or reformation hereof
shall be deemed valid until reduced to writing and signed by the
parties hereto.
THIS LEASE
AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES ARISING OUT OF THIS LEASE
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED, ENFORCED, AND PERFORMED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AS THE SAME MAY BE
AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION
OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF
TEXAS.
WITH RESPECT
TO ANY SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
THIS LEASE, EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS (AS APPLICABLE)
LOCATED IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, AND TO ALL COURTS COMPETENT TO
HEAR AND DETERMINE APPEALS THEREFROM, AND WAIVES ANY OBJECTIONS
THAT A SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN ANOTHER
COURT AND ANY OBJECTIONS TO INCONVENIENT FORUM.
THE PARTIES
FURTHER AGREE THAT, IN THE EVENT OF A LAWSUIT ARISING OUT OF THE
PERFORMANCE OF THIS LEASE, THE PREVAILING PARTY SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO RECOVER ITS REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COURT COSTS,
INCLUDING FEES FOR EXPERT WITNESSES, FOR PROSECUTING OR DEFENDING
ANY SUCH LAWSUIT FROM THE PARTY NOT PREVAILING.
This Lease may
be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original and all of which, taken together shall constitute the same
agreement.
This Lease
shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties according to
the language as a whole and not for or against any
party.
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
8
In the event
one or more of the provisions contained in this Lease shall be held
to be invalid or legally unenforceable in any respect under
applicable law, the validity, legality or enforceability of the
remaining provisions hereof shall not be affected or impaired
thereby. Each of the provisions of this Agreement is hereby
declared to be separate and distinct.
Nothing
contained in this Lease shall be construed to create an
association, trust, partnership, or joint venture or impose a
trust, fiduciary or partnership duty, obligation, or liability on
or with regard to any party.
This Lease is
for the sole benefit of the parties and their respective successors
and permitted assigns, and shall not inure to the benefit of any
other person whomsoever, it being the intention of the parties that
no third person shall be deemed a third party beneficiary of this
Lease.
A party will be
in default if it: (a) breaches this Lease, and the breach is
not cured within thirty (30) days after receiving written
notice of such default (or alleged default) from the other party
specifying the nature of the breach; (b) becomes insolvent; or
(c) files or has filed against it a petition in bankruptcy,
for reorganization, or for appointment of a receiver or trustee. In
the event of default, the non-defaulting party may terminate this
Lease upon notice to the defaulting party. For the avoidance of
doubt, Lessor’s failure to perform any of the services for
any reason other than force majeure will be deemed a breach of this
Lease to which subsection (a) of this Section 25
applies.
This Lease may
be terminated and canceled by Lessor if not accepted and returned
to Lessor by Joint Owner within fifteen (15) days from the
date hereof.
(Form 1506-Multiple Product)
9
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