Tennessee Gas cancels storage project, plans pipeline expansion

Pipeline & Gas Journal, March, 2009

El Paso subsidiary Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company plans to increase the capacity of its 300 Line to transport new diversified natural gas supplies, including newly accessed Appalachian and Marcellus Shale gas to serve the growing demand for interstate natural gas transmission service in the northeastern United States. The 300 Line project involves the installation of seven looping segments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey totaling 128 miles of 30-inch pipeline, and the addition of 52,000 horsepower (HP) following the installation of two new compressor stations and upgrades at seven existing compressor stations.

The additional HP will be constructed at two new compressor stations to be located in northwestern Pennsylvania, at two existing compressor stations in Pennsylvania, and at an existing compressor station in New Jersey. Additionally,. Tennessee will upgrade or restage compressors at three existing stations and add a filter separator to one existing compressor station. At the same time, to capture efficiencies and increase reliability, Tennessee will replace HP at four of the previously mentioned compressor stations.

Upon completion, Tennessee expects the project will increase natural gas delivery capacity in the region by 300,000 Dth/d. The project would provide access to diversified supplies from Gulf Coast, Appalachian, Rockies, and Marcellus Shale supply areas, and gas deliveries to points along the 300 Line path and into various interconnections with other pipelines in northern New Jersey, as well as an existing delivery point in White Plains, NY.

Tennessee contemplates submitting its certificate application requesting approval of the project from the Commission in June and to place the project in service by November 2011.