Repsol Energy North America Corp., the largest shipper on Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline LLP (M&NE), has told FERC that M&NE and affiliate Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC have failed to answer questions about how their Atlantic Bridge Project could affect existing M&NE shippers.

The Spectra Energy pipelines’ response to a previous Repsol query was “…two terse paragraphs which consist of nothing but brief conclusory statements backed up by no explanations or evidence in the record,” Repsol told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [CP16-9].

Atlantic Bridge would enable Algonquin to provide 132,705 Dth/d of firm capacity from its receipt points at Mahwah, NJ, and Ramapo, NY, to new and existing points on the Algonquin system, including an interconnection with M&NE at Beverly, MA. The project also would allow M&NE to provide 106,276 Dth/d of firm capacity from Beverly to existing delivery points on its system for project shippers. The project is expected to be in service by the second half of 2017 (see Daily GPI, Dec. 24, 2015).

Repsol mainly wants to know how the project would affect its ability to ship gas originating from the tailgate of its Canaport LNG terminal southward on M&NE.

“Maritimes will have the obligation to transport up to 730,000 Dth/d from gas that Repsol sources at the north end of the system from its Canaport LNG terminal, at the same time it has the obligation to transport on behalf of Atlantic Bridge shippers gas at the south end of the system,” Repsol said in its response to the pipelines’ earlier reply to its questions.

“Algonquin and Maritimes should indicate whether any existing Maritimes capacity or compressors will be used for the Atlantic Bridge project and, if so, describe when the capacity or compressors were so dedicated and provide all agreements related to the commitment of the capacity or compressors to the project,” Repsol said in its previous filing.

Repsol also has asked how Maritimes will make available interruptible south-to-north service using capacity put into service in the Atlantic Bridge project. “Applicants should clarify, for example, what rights Maritimes will have to call upon the Weymouth compressor station or Algonquin generally to provide the pressure required to transport gas in a south-to-north direction on Maritimes.

“As an example, it is foreseeable that a non-Atlantic Bridge shipper who is not paying the proposed incremental Algonquin Atlantic Bridge rate could nominate south-to-north service using available capacity not being utilized by Atlantic Bridge shippers. In that circumstance, will Algonquin and Maritimes be able to use the Weymouth compressor station, which is part of the incremental facilities being constructed on Algonquin to transport the gas?”