After a series of delays Equitrans LP Tuesday asked FERC for the green light to place in service its Big Sandy Pipeline, which was built to ease the capacity constraints that have plagued producers in the eastern part of Kentucky over the years.

Ironically, Equitrans’ request comes a week after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted the company another deadline extension — until July 31 — to put the new pipeline in operation (see Daily GPI, March 25). The Commission has approved a series of extensions for the Big Sandy project, which was originally scheduled to be in operation by Nov. 15, 2007 (see Daily GPI, Oct. 2, 2007). Construction efforts have been hampered by significant rainfall in Kentucky, the company reported. FERC approved the project in November 2006 (see Daily GPI, Nov. 16, 2006).

“Equitrans estimates that the [pipeline] will be ready for service on or soon after April 15,” wrote David K. Dewey, Equitrans vice president and general counsel, in a letter to the agency. “Although Equitrans does not anticipate any problems with commissioning, this process may indicate the need for adjustments to equipment and may extend beyond April 15. Equitrans will advise the Commission should the commissioning process reveal any significant concerns.”

Big Sandy Pipeline is a 68-mile, 20-inch diameter line that extends from Equitable Resources’ Kentucky Hydrocarbon plant in Langley in eastern Kentucky to Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s Broad Run Lateral in Carter County [CP06-275]. It will provide 130 MDth/d of takeaway capacity for Kentucky producers to transport Appalachian gas to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

Equitrans is the pipeline subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Equitable Resources, an integrated energy firm with a focus on Appalachian natural gas supply, transmission and distribution.

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