Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) said it is conducting an openseason through April 30 for another expansion project, its Phase Vexpansion, which is designed as an alternative to two majorGulf-crossing pipeline competitors, the Buccaneer and Gulfstreampipelines, proposed by Williams and Coastal, respectively.

“With our existing pipeline infrastructure, Florida GasTransmission has the ability to meet our customers’ growing energyneeds through economical expansions that minimize the impact onland use and the environment,” said Rockford G. Meyer, FGTpresident. The estimated initial in-service date of the project islate 2001 or early 2002.

FGT will consider offers from existing shippers to permanentlyrelease firm capacity, reducing the need for construction.Interested shippers should contact an FGT marketing representativeat (713) 853-6154.

FGT’s $350 million proposed Phase IV expansion is expected to bein service by May 2001. For the Phase IV expansion, eight shippersexecuted 20-year firm commitments for 272,000 MMBtu/d ofincremental firm service, net of turn-back capacity.

Coastal and Williams, however, are attempting to capture for thefirst time some of FGT’s prized Florida marketplace with theirGulfstream and Buccaneer projects. Both pipelines would stretchfrom Mobile, AL, across the Gulf of Mexico to Tampa, FL, and crossthe state of Florida to cities along the Atlantic Coast. Each wouldbe designed to carry between 700 MMcf/d and 1 Bcf/d of gas. Coastalsaid recently it already has the early market lead with nineshippers backing its 700-mile Gulfstream project. An open seasonfor Gulfstream ends next Monday. Buccaneer also is holding a Marchopen season.

©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.