Enbridge Energy Partners LP said it received a “good expression of interest” from shippers for transportation capacity on a proposed expansion of its East and Northeast Texas systems. But the Houston-based energy company declined to say what portion of the 500 MMcf/d of capacity to be created by the intra-state project has been subscribed.

“We’re not ready to discuss [numbers],” said Enbridge Energy spokesman Larry Springer last week. The open season for the proposed expansion capacity ended Sept. 17, and the pipeline is now moving to the “concrete phase” of the process to sign up shippers, he noted.

The proposed 105-mile, 36-inch diameter natural gas transmission line would originate at Enbridge Energy Partners’ existing facilities near Bethel in Anderson County, TX, and would terminate at the Carthage Hub in Panola County, TX, according to the company. The project would provide expanded takeaway service on both the East and Northeast Texas systems, which include gathering, treating and processing and transmission facilities.

The expansion’s proposed 500 MMcf/d of capacity would relieve transportation constraints now faced by shippers with production from regional plays, including the Bossier sands and Barnett Shale, the company said.

“The demand expressed during last month’s open season reinforces our commitment to quickly construct this strategic pipeline and bring it on line by the end of 2004,” said Dan Tutcher, president of Enbridge Energy Co. Inc., the general partner of Enbridge Energy Partners. “With our immediate access to production from the partnership’s regional gathering systems, the base load for this transmission pipeline is already available.”

Completing construction by the end of 2004 is an “aggressive schedule, but we believe we can do it,” Springer said. He indicated that Enbridge Energy Partners will file an application with the Texas Railroad Commission once it completes negotiations with prospective shippers.

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