A binding open season was launched Friday by Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) to solicit market interest in the Tiger Pipeline, a 180-mile, 42-inch diameter interstate system that would carry growing natural gas supplies from the Haynesville Shale.

The pipeline is expected to have an initial throughput capacity of at least 1.25 Bcf/d, but it may be increased to 2 Bcf/d based on the open season, which closes March 20. ETP already has a 15-year commitment from Chesapeake Energy Marketing Inc. for firm transportation capacity of 1 Bcf/d. ETP and the Chesapeake Energy Corp. subsidiary launched plans to build the pipe last month (see Daily GPI, Jan. 28).

The Tiger Pipeline would connect to ETP’s dual 42-inch diameter pipe system near Carthage, TX, and extend through East Texas and northwestern Louisiana, terminating near Delhi, LA. Interconnects would be available with “at least seven interstate pipelines at various points in Louisiana,” ETP said. Depending on regulatory approvals, the pipe could be in service in the first half of 2011.

When completed, the pipe would provide takeaway capacity from the increasingly constrained Carthage Hub area in East Texas, which receives gas from several producing basins in Texas, including the Barnett Shale, Deep Bossier Sands and the Permian Basin.

ETP subsidiary ETC Tiger Pipeline LLC is conducting the bid process for customers that want contract terms of at least 10 years. For information contact Luke Fletcher at (210) 403-6492, luke.fletcher@energytransfer.com; or Lee Hanse at(210) 403-6455, lee.hanse@energytransfer.com. Information is also available at www.energytransfer.com.

©Copyright 2009Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.