Williams Gas Pipeline and Puget Sound Energy Inc. said they are evaluating development of the Blue Bridge Pipeline Project, which would be constructed along Williams’ Northwest Pipeline natural gas transmission system from Stanfield, OR, to markets in the Pacific Northwest.

The companies said Blue Bridge is anticipated to be operated as part of Northwest Pipeline’s system with service to be provided under Northwest’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gas tariff.

Under the proposal, Blue Bridge would include the construction of up to 172 miles of 30- and 36-inch diameter pipeline and additional horsepower at Northwest’s existing Plymouth, Washougal and Chehalis compressor stations. The project would provide capacity of up to 500,000 Dth/d and would be proposed for service in 2011. The companies noted that the project would utilize Northwest’s existing corridor for most of the route.

They added that the project would provide increased access to Rocky Mountain gas supplies through Williams’ and TransCanada’s proposed Sunstone Pipeline to be constructed between Opal, WY, and Stanfield. Earlier this month Williams and TransCanada Corp. announced Sunstone as the latest Rockies east-to-west gas pipeline proposal that would move supplies to the West Coast (see NGI, March 17).

Shippers on the Blue Bridge project could also access Canadian supplies through Northwest’s existing interconnect with Gas Transmission Northwest. Blue Bridge shippers could deliver to any point on the Northwest’s system between Stanfield and the I-5 corridor, including the major market areas of Seattle and Portland. An open season for the Blue Bridge Project is proposed to begin in April and run through May.

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