Gulfstream Natural Gas System LLC Monday asked FERC for authorization to place into service next month the remainder of its Phase IV expansion facilities, which will supply natural gas to a power plant in west-central Florida that is in the process of being converted to burn gas.

The remaining facilities, which Gulfstream seeks to start up on or before Dec. 19, include a new 15,000 hp compressor unit at its existing Station 410 in Coden, AL; and two new 15,000 hp units at its existing Station 420 in Manatee County, FL.

In late October the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave Gulfstream clearance to operate the pipeline facilities of the Phase IV expansion, including 17.74 miles of 20-inch diameter offshore line that extends from an underwater hot tap with Gulfstream’s existing 36-inch diameter line in the Hillsborough County waters of Tampa Bay to Florida Power Corp.’s Bartow power plant in Pinellas County, FL (see Daily GPI, Oct. 23).

The Bartow plant has operated as an oil-fired power plant. Florida Power is repowering the facility as a gas-fired plant and increasing its capacity to 1,159 MW by adding combined-cycle gas turbines. The repowering project is targeted for completion in 2009, according to the utility. Florida Power affiliate Progress Energy Florida Inc. has subscribed to the entire 155,000 Dth/d of capacity of the project under 23-year term agreements.

The Commission approved Gulfstream’s request to roll in the $117 million cost of the Phase IV facilities in its next Section 4 rate proceeding.

The Phase IV facility expansion raises Gulfstream’s certificated system capacity to approximately 1.232 Bcf/d. The 726-mile pipeline originates in Mississippi and Alabama, crosses the Gulf of Mexico floor and comes ashore on the western coast of Florida.

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