Atmos Energy Corp. has announced a nonbinding open season to be held in June for services at its proposed Fort Necessity salt-dome natural gas storage project in Franklin Parish, LA.

Atmos Pipeline and Storage LLC plans to develop the facility to provide initially up to 15 Bcf of working gas storage in three underground caverns. Pending regulatory approval, the first cavern is projected to go into full commercial operation by early 2011. The other two caverns are expected to enter service by 2012 and 2014.

The Fort Necessity storage facility will have mainline interconnects with Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s 800 Leg, Columbia Gulf Transmission and ANR Pipelines and Regency Energy Partners’ 30-inch diameter Winnsboro Extension. Additional mainline interconnects being considered include Trunkline and Texas Gas Transmission pipelines in northeastern Louisiana.

The nonbinding open season will extend from 8 a.m. CDT on June 2 through 5 p.m. CDT on June 20. The company said it expects to file for certification by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in August.

Information about the project and the nonbinding open season is available at www.atmosenergy.com/fortnecessity. Prospective customers seeking additional information should contact Mark Walsh at (713) 316-8724 or Gayle Taggart at (713) 316-8723.

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