Coastal’s Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG), and Southwest Gassubsidiary Paiute Pipeline are holding an open season for capacityon a new pipeline to be built from northeast Utah to northernNevada. Jointly sponsored by CIG and Paiute, the Ruby Pipeline willextend more than 400 miles from CIG’s western terminus in UintahCounty, UT, to an interconnection with Paiute Pipeline near Elko,NV. The pipeline also will interconnect with the Kern RiverPipeline near its Dog Valley meter station south of Salt Lake Cityand will pass through the developing coalbed methane fields nearPrice, UT.

Depending on market interest, the pipe is expected to be 20 to24 inches in diameter and carry 250 MMcf/d. Pending Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission and corporate board approval, an in-servicedate of fall 2001 is expected.

“Market conditions are excellent for the Ruby Pipeline,especially given Kern River Pipeline’s recently announced plans toexpand its mainline from Opal, WY, to southern California,” saidJon R. Whitney, CIG CEO. “Ruby will provide effectivetransportation for Rocky Mountain natural gas to serve growingmarkets in southern California and northern Nevada, as well ascommunities and industrial facilities along Ruby’s route whichcurrently do not have natural gas service.”

The line also could serve a power plant being considered byCoastal Power north of Elko, but the mining industry is the maintarget in that area. The Paiute Pipeline, which Ruby would tie into, supplies two Southwest Gas LDCs, Southwest Gas Northern Nevadaand Southwest Gas Northern California. Paiute spokesman Ed Kulassaid gas moving on Ruby would serve the Nevada LDC and could end upserving the California one, too. The open season began yesterdayand runs through Friday, Jan. 8.

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