Trailblazer Pipeline is planning an expansion project and apotential extension to serve growing production in the Powder Riverbasin in Wyoming. The pipeline last week started an open season totest the market for both projects.

The proposed extension would require installation of 149 milesof 24-inch diameter pipeline and related compression facilities, aswell as compression and possibly looping of the existingTrailblazer system. It would extend Trailblazer to Glenrock, WY, atan interconnection of several pipelines that serve the Powder RiverSupply Basin in Wyoming and Montana. Trailblazer terminates in GageCounty, NE. Trailblazer proposes to interconnect with Thunder CreekPipeline, Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transmission and Fort UnionPipeline. Potential interconnections with other pipelines also willbe considered.

“With the significant growth occurring in Rocky Mountain naturalgas supplies, there is a need for additional pipelinetransportation service,” said Richard D. Kinder, CEO of KinderMorgan Energy Partners, which owns two-thirds of Trailblazer. “Thisopen season will help us determine the demand and enable us to moveforward appropriately to extend and/or expand the TrailblazerPipeline.”

In addition, Trailblazer is accepting bids for an expansionproject with capacity from Rockport, CO, where Trailblazerinterconnects with Colorado Interstate Gas Co., Wyoming InterstateCompany, West Gas, and KMIGT and terminates in Gage County, NB.With this project, Trailblazer anticipates it would need to installtwo new compressor stations, add additional horsepower atcompressor station 602 and perhaps construct some 36-inch loop,depending on the level of interest. Trailblazer would utilizeexisting transmission right-of-way and compressor sites it alreadyowns to minimize the overall project costs and environmentalimpact.

Trailblazer is proposing two projects and shippers may bid onone or both of the projects. Based on the bids, Trailblazer willinform shippers which project or combination of projects it intendsto develop. The open season began on Monday and will close at 5p.m. CDT on Friday, June 23. To obtain more information contact RonBrown at (713) 369-9290.

Trailblazer operates a 436-mile pipeline system that runs fromColorado through Southeastern Wyoming to Beatrice, NB. KinderMorgan Energy Partners, L.P. owns a two-thirds interest inTrailblazer, with the other one-third interest owned by EnronTrailblazer Pipeline Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of EnronCorp. Trailblazer is operated by Natural Gas Pipeline Company ofAmerica (NGPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc.

Rocco Canonica

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