There’s little doubt that pipeline capacity between the RockyMountain region and the Midcontinent is about to experience asignificant upgrade. In all, three large projects have surfaced,including one formally announced last week by Colorado InterstateGas (CIG).

CIG is holding an open season through Oct. 6 on a proposedmid-sized gas pipeline that would provide an outlet to Midcontinentmarkets for growing gas supplies primarily from the Powder RiverBasin in Wyoming and Montana. The COCO Pipeline would be agreenfield pipeline with a new route extending from the CheyenneHub through CIG’s market area storage fields to the confluence ofseveral mid-continent pipelines near Greensburg, KS, including ANR,Panhandle, Northern Natural, NGPL, and Williams. CIG currentlyanticipates at least 500 MDth/d of transport capacity for this400-mile line with an in-service date in late 2003.

The project is very similar to one already proposed by Williams.Williams’ Western Frontier Pipeline would extend from the CheyenneHub in northeastern Colorado to Hugoton Station on Williams’Central pipeline system in southwest Kansas. Western Frontier wouldbe a major new line, extending 320 miles with 13,000 hp ofcompression and 540,000 Dth/d of gas transportation capacity.

Furthermore, Trailblazer held an open season earlier this summerand is planning an expansion of its existing 436-mile pipelinesystem, which runs from Colorado through Southeastern Wyoming toBeatrice, NB. Trailblazer plans to install two new compressorstations, add additional horsepower at compressor station 602 andperhaps construct some 36-inch loop.

CIG said it has been working with shippers on the COCO projectfor the past year in response to concerns that Rocky Mountain gassupplies could exceed pipeline takeaway capacity, the company said.Considering this interest, together with the recent WyomingInterstate open season for an expansion of its Medicine Bow Loop,serving the Powder River Basin, CIG has decided to solicit bids forcapacity to be provided by COCO.

For information about the project contact CIG’s Tom Price (719)520-4465, Craig Coombs (719) 520-4387, or Laine Lobban (719)520-4344.

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