Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC (TGP) is asking FERC for authorization to increase the design capacity of its Pemex Border Crossing facilities in Hidalgo County, TX, to 468 MMcf/d from 185 MMcf/d.

No construction or modification would be made to the previously approved facilities.

“Modifying Tennessee’s existing NGA [Natural Gas Act] section 3 authorization and Presidential Permit would update and align Tennessee’s existing authorizations with the operational capability of its cross-border facilities,” TGP said in its application.

TGP was first authorized to build and operate the Pemex Border Crossing facilities at the international boundary near Reynosa, Mexico in 1999. The facilities include 486 feet of 24-inch diameter pipeline where they interconnect with facilities operated by Pemex Gas y Petroquimica Basica (Pemex). At that time, TGP said it had an agreement with Pemex for 185,000 Dth/d of firm transportation service to the border delivery point.

In its Dec. 20 application, TGP asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish a maximum daily import and export capacity of 468 MMcf/d, “which represents the maximum daily throughput capability of the meter at the Pemex connection.” The increase is needed “to accommodate potential growth in firm deliveries at this location in order to satisfy an increased demand for natural gas in Mexico.”

The proposed amendment would not impair TGP’s ability to render transportation service in the United States, the company said.

FERC is accepting comments on the TGP application through Jan. 24.

The United States exported 130.6 Bcf to Mexico via pipelines in October, compared with 129.9 Bcf in October 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.