MPLX LP

Environmental accomplishments: 

MPLX LP is a diversified, large-cap MLP formed by Marathon Petroleum Corp. that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets and provides fuels distribution services.

In 2020 MPLX established its Focus on Methane program as a holistic approach to voluntarily reduce methane emissions across its natural gas gathering and processing operations. The company has set a target to reduce methane emissions intensity 50% below 2016 levels by 2025. At the end of 2020, the company had achieved a 22% reduction. Additionally, MPLX reduced its criteria pollutant emissions 28% from 2016 levels.

A focus area within MPLX for methane reductions is pneumatic control valves. More than 80% of its more than 25,000 pneumatic controllers were already powered by compressed air, meaning they are not a source of methane. For the remaining gas-driven controllers, MPLX plans to replace ~300 high-bleed controllers by the end of 2022. The company has committed to implement a program to either convert ~3,000 intermittent bleed controllers to low bleed or compressed air or implement a leak reduction and repair program to assure performance.

MPLX terminals utilize vapor recovery units (VRUs) to recover vapors from trucks and barges as they are loaded with fuel. Continuous emission monitors equipped with smart start processing equipment allow the VRUs to operate only while loading, saving power and decreasing emissions. By utilizing VRUs across MPLX terminals, the company avoided more than 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ in 2020. 

As a partner company in EPA’s SmartWay transport program, MPLX uses assessment tools to track the greenhouse-gas emissions intensity of its tanker trucks to help the company identify opportunities to become more efficient. In 2020 MPLX continued to improve its transportation efficiency, resulting in a 4% increase in miles per gallon and a 4% reduction in CO₂ grams per mile since 2017. 

Societal efforts: 

MPLX’s wholly owned subsidiary, Marathon Pipe Line LLC (MPL), engages and educates landowners, community members, schools and public officials on pipeline safety and infrastructure. In 2020 MPL completed a five-year landowner mail campaign along the pipeline to build relationships, earn trust and increase pipeline safety knowledge. Survey results showed the mail campaign was effective; 98% of landowners were aware of MPL-operated pipelines located on their property compared to 69% in 2016. 

In 2020 MPL further enhanced its public engagement program, Earning Your Trust, by implementing a data-driven strategy to reduce third-party damage and near-miss incidents. Using data analytics, MPL focused on specific locations to provide relevant informational and educational messages for landowners. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, MPL reached out to partner schools, nursing homes and hospitals near MPL-operated pipelines to promote consistent engagement while assessing needs and identifying where they could help. MPL also engaged the public by sending emails and launching focused social media campaigns. Virtual Emergency Preparedness meetings were held with 26 schools in proximity to MPL pipelines to promote pipeline safety. 

Governance achievements:

At MPLX, impacts, risks and opportunities related to ESG topics are identified and managed by company leadership with the oversight of the board of directors of MPLX’s general partner. MPLX is subject to an Operational Excellence Management System (OEMS) that helps manage HSE risks to protect the health and safety of workers, contractors and communities where MPLX operates. This OEMS has been third-party reviewed for alignment with RC14001 and ISO 9001.