Columbia Gas Transmission and Crossroads Pipeline said Friday that after evaluating the MidWest project’s original open season concluded early this year, they have decided to revise and expand the proposed project to accommodate the completion of power plants in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. As a result, the two NiSource affiliates announced a new open season to begin Friday and run through 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6.

“We continue to see growth in demand and the need for additional natural gas supply into our Market Areas 1 through 9 and 15,” said James W. Hart, Jr., vice president of Marketing for the NiSource pipelines, referring to the company’s Ohio and northern Kentucky zones. “There is continued interest to move supplies from the mid-west into Columbia’s system.”

In order to meet this demand, Columbia said it is redefining its MidWest Project by conducting an open season in conjunction with Crossroads Pipeline that would facilitate a seamless path from the Chicago Hub into Ohio. The first open season concluded in Dec. 2001 (see Daily GPI, Oct. 10, 2001).

“In addition to soliciting requests for capacity and service, Columbia has recognized the need to offer storage services that would enhance the market value in the Western Ohio area along with meeting shipper needs on the Crossroads system,” according to Linda Carson, Market Development Manager and project leader for the MidWest Open Season. “As before, in the event the preferred receipt path is beyond the service that can be provided by either Crossroads or Columbia, we may look to extend the supply path, as necessary, by including other transportation providers.”

Carson added that the service opportunities in the revised open season could provide shippers with an ability to access supplies at Joliet along with other western receipt points on Crossroads or Columbia, and deliver those supplies into Ohio and Northern Kentucky areas. The company noted the open season also offers shippers the ability to move supplies west from the Columbia system to market area deliveries on Crossroads or back to Joliet. The storage service contemplated would add additional flexibility to manage the bi-directional access to the markets.

Columbia’ system is connected to the Crossroads Cygnet receipt point in western Ohio. The companies said that in the event the preferred receipt path is beyond the service that can be provided by either Crossroads or Columbia, “Columbia may look to extend the supply path, as necessary, by including other transportation providers.”

Columbia said the suggested minimum contract term would be 10 years. Rates will be in accordance with Columbia and Crossroads tariffs and will be dependent on customer nominations and the need for system enhancements.

For more information or to express an interest in the MidWest expansion project, bid packages are available on Columbia’s Navigator electronic bulletin board www.columbianavigator.com, or by contacting Carson at 703-227-3427 or lcarson@nisource.com.

Columbia Gas Transmission delivers on average 1.3 Tcf of gas per year to 72 local distribution companies and several hundred gas end-users in 11 Northeastern, Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states.

Crossroads is an interstate pipeline company which extends from Northwest Indiana, eastward into Ohio. Crossroads accesses Midcontinent, Rocky Mountain, Gulf Coast Texas and Louisiana, Permian and Canadian gas supply basins through its interconnects with Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America, Trunkline Gas Co. and Panhandle Eastern. The pipeline accesses markets in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio through its interconnects with local distribution companies and interstate pipeline companies serving these market centers.

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