NorAm Interstate Pipelines bought the intrastate Illini Pipelinefrom Houston-based Nuevo Energy Co. Illini Pipeline operates insouth central Illinois, serving customers in the East St. Louismetropolitan area. The line is about 70 miles long and has capacityup to 45,000 MMBtu/d. NorAm will continue to operate Illini as anintrastate system and expects to take over operation of the Illinisystem this summer.

“The acquisition of Illini is a strategic fit for NorAm,” saidDale Earwood, NorAm COO. “It will grow and strengthen our pipelinesystem business and support our efforts to respond to growthopportunities while continuing to deliver the highest qualityservice possible.” Illini is not currently connected to any NorAmpipes. No decision has been made on whether to connect the pipe tothe NorAm system, a spokeswoman said. “We’re still contemplatingwhat our future plans are for the pipeline. We’re currently focusedon completing the purchase.”

The pipeline is in the same market area as Mississippi RiverTransmission (MRT) but is not connected to that or any other NorAmpipe. Gas is delivered to the system on Natural Gas Pipeline Co. ofAmerica and goes to about five industrial customers in themetropolitan East St. Louis area. The intrastate originally wasconverted in the 1980s from a liquids pipeline to bypass MRT withdeliveries to the industrials.

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