Constitution Pipeline Co. LLC’s proposal to build and operate a 121-mile long, 30-inch diameter pipeline between Susquehanna County, PA and Schoharie County, NY, does not include plans to service liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, the Houston-based company said in a filing with FERC.

The Constitution pipeline would provide natural gas transportation service from Susquehanna County to Iroquois Gas Transmission System and Tennessee Gas Pipeline in Schoharie County, the company said.

“As of this date, there are no existing or proposed LNG export facilities located downstream of the pipeline to which Constitution will connect,” according to an Aug. 13 filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Constitution, a development launched in February by frequent partners Williams Partners LP and Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., in April executed precedent agreements for the proposed pipeline, designed to connect Marcellus Shale production in northeastern Pennsylvania to Northeast markets by spring 2015. Cabot, one of the biggest operators in the Marcellus Shale, agreed to transport 500,000 Dth/d on Constitution, while Southwestern Energy Services Co. said it would carry 150,000 Dth/d, for a total takeaway capacity of 650,000 Dth/d.

The clarification at FERC was prompted by a recent presentation by The Williams Companies Inc., which included a reference “to potential LNG export opportunities on Northwest [Pipeline GP] in the western United States and expansion opportunities related to LNG terminals located on [Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC’s] system in the southeast and Gulf Coast region,” Constitution said in its filing. “Constitution is not proposing to interconnect with either of these pipeline systems.”

Constitution is one spoke in a master plan by Williams, 69% owner of Williams Partners, to create a gas supply hub in northeastern Pennsylvania (see Daily GPI, Feb. 24; Dec. 5, 2011). The pipeline would connect the partnership’s gathering system in Susquehanna County, PA, to the Iroquois Gas Transmission and Tennessee Gas Pipeline systems in Schoharie County, NY.

Williams Partners would own 75% of the interstate pipeline, and through its affiliates would provide construction, operation and maintenance services. Cabot would own the remaining stake.

FERC has granted Constitution permission to initiate a pre-filing environmental review of the pipeline proposal. The FERC pre-filing process would solicit early input from citizens, governmental entities and other interested parties to identify and address issues with potential facility locations. FERC staff anticipates that the company will file an application in January.

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