FERC staff will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Driftwood LNG and associated pipeline projects. Comments are due at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by Nov. 4 (see Daily GPI, May 13) [PF16-6]. Driftwood LNG LLC intends to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Calcasieu Parish, LA, along the west side of the Calcasieu River, with a liquefaction capacity of about 26 million tonnes per annum. Driftwood LNG Pipeline Co. LLC plans to construct 96 miles of pipeline in Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Acadia and Evangeline parishes that would connect the liquefaction and export facility to the existing interstate U.S. natural gas grid. The proposed facilities would consist of five LNG plants, three full-containment LNG storage tanks, three berths and loading facilities, three compressor stations, 15 meter stations, a 3.5-mile, 36-inch diameter pipeline lateral, and three pipeline segments, consisting of about 74 miles of 48-inch diameter pipeline, 11 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline, and 11 miles of 36-inch diameter pipeline. Construction is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2018, with exports expected to begin during the second quarter of 2022.

In a recent update, Texas Eastern Transmission LP said work to confirm the integrity of its Penn-Jersey system continues. A portion of the system exploded and caught fire in Southwest Pennsylvania in April (see Daily GPI, April 29) The system consists of four parallel pipes running from Delmont, PA, to Lambertville, NJ. The company agreed to conduct a voluntary assessment of the system with the goal of returning it to full service by Nov. 1 (see Daily GPI, June 29). Lines 12, 19 and 28 are expected to return to full capacity by Oct. 17. Spokesman Creighton Welch said the seven-mile section of Line 27 that ruptured in the blast would remain out of service until 2017. The rest of Line 27 is operating at reduced capacity.