Vector Pipeline began operations Friday, completing pipelineconstruction and the start of transportation service on a newnatural gas pipeline system. The 285-mile 42-inch pipeline connectsto 59 miles of existing 36-inch pipe leased line in Michigan, andcrosses 1,900 tracts of land in the United States and Canada.

Vector’s startup coincided with that of the Alliance Pipeline,which also began operations Friday (see Daily GPI, Dec. 1), ending the worry about whether thetwo pipelines would be ready to go at the same time. Vector hadconstruction problems because of wet weather and also was forced todelay its start-up from Nov. 1, while Alliance had continually pushedback its expected date of Oct. 1 because of commissioning problems.

Alliance did not immediately announce the opening amount of gasin its 2,300-mile route from Fort St. John in northeastern BritishColumbia to Chicago. But industry sources said it was filling uprapidly after curing startup glitches that postponed the event fora month, with about 800 MMcf/d flowing or 60% of its scheduledvolumes. The line was installed with ability to take up to 1.5Bcf/d in order to guarantee service on its 1.325 billion inlong-term, firm transportation contracts.

Alberta Premier and Calgary mayor performed ceremonial taps ontwo cordless computer mice to power up the high-tech control roomin Calgary,

Vector’s pipeline is expected to transport 700 MMcf/d of gasinitially from Joliet, IL, through Indiana and Michigan to Dawn,ON, but would be expanded to 1 Bcf/d in a year when the Highlandcompressor station in Michigan is completed. Also, 200 MMcf/d ofshort-haul service into Indiana will be initiated in March 2001,following completion of interconnecting facilities. Officials saythat the system may be cost-effectively expanded to 1.5 Bcf/deventually.

Current partners in the Vector project are Calgary-basedEnbridge Inc., holding a 45% interest; Vancouver-based WestcoastEnergy Inc., which holds 30% interest; and Detroit-based MCN EnergyGroup Inc., holding 25%. Since it was proposed in June 1997,representatives have worked with nearly 70 local, state, federaland provincial agencies to obtain the required permits.

Lead operators for Vector will be Enbridge Inc.-U.S. andEnbridge Pipelines Inc., subsidiaries of Calgary-based Enbridge.They will provide all field services in the United States exceptfor the 59 miles of leased facilities in Michigan and except forgas control, nominations and administrative services. MichCon willprovide the field services for the leased line in Michigan; UnionGas will do the same for the Canadian segment.

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