An environmental assessment (EA) of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC’s (Transco) Gulf Connector Project, a two-phase expansion of the Texas and Louisiana natural gas system, is scheduled to be issued Sept. 21, with federal authorizations due 90 days later, according FERC.

Transco filed an application for the project last August at the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency, indicating capacity would be used to deliver natural gas to two Gulf Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals [CP16-494].

Gulf Connector would enable Transco to provide 475,000 Dth/d of incremental firm transportation service from Transco’s Station 65 Zone 3 Pool in St. Helena Parish, LA, southward along its mainline to new delivery points in Zones 1 and 2, according to the application.

The first phase would provide 75,000 Dth/d by Sept. 1, 2018; Phase 2 would provide an additional 400,000 Dth/d by Jan. 1, 2019. Transco had asked for FERC authorization by the beginning of August to meet the planned in-service dates.

Transco would construct three compressor stations, add an interconnection with Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline LP’s pipeline, and make piping and valve modifications at two existing compressor stations to allow for bi-directional gas flow. No expansion of the Transco’s pipeline is required.

The project would allow Transco to carry gas to South Texas via a proposed interconnection with Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP’s Coastal Bend Header in Wharton County, TX, and a proposed interconnection with Cheniere Pipeline in San Patricio County, TX. The project would not affect Transco’s ability to provide northbound transportation service on its mainline, the pipeline told FERC.

Transco has struck binding precedent agreements with two customers: Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC and Osaka Gas Trading & Export LLC for 100% of the incremental firm service to be provided. Via Transco’s interconnection with Coastal Bend Header, the project would enable gas delivery to Freeport LNG Development LP’s export terminal in Brazoria County, TX. The project also would enable gas delivery to Cheniere Energy Inc.’s Corpus Christi, TX, LNG terminal.