The total of pipeline mileage and transportation capacity that has gone into service this year is significantly more than what entered operation during the first eight months of 2010, according to statistics compiled by FERC’s Office of Energy Projects (OEP).

A total of 16 pipeline projects were placed in service through Aug. 31, up from 13 for the same period in 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reported. So far this year, 1,484 miles of pipeline, 8,210.5 MMcf/d of capacity and 645,771 hp of compression have gone into service. This compares to 280 miles of pipeline, 5,507 MMcf/d of capacity and 168,405 hp of compression through Aug. 31, 2010.

The Commission, however, has certificated fewer natural gas pipeline projects this year than during the first eight months of 2010. It approved 11 pipeline projects through Aug. 31, compared with 16 for the same period in 2010, according to the agency.

In August two interstate natural gas pipeline expansions — both proposed by Spectra Energy pipelines — were placed in service, OEP said in its “Energy Infrastructure Update” for August.

The two expansions include East Tennessee Natural Gas’ Northeastern Tennessee Project, which provides up to 150 MMcf/d of firm transportation to Tennessee Valley Authority’s new John Sevier combined-cycle plant in Hawkins County, TN, and Texas Eastern Transmission’s (Tetco) Marietta Extension Project, which is part of Tetco’s TEMAX project.

The in-service date of a project is based on when the Commission sends out a letter approving the pipeline’s request to place a project in service, a Commission spokeswoman said.

The East Tennessee expansion adds 27.9 miles of pipeline facilities, while the Marietta extension adds 26.5 miles of pipeline. East Tennessee provides an additional 150 MMcf/d of capacity; none was added by the Marietta extension, FERC said.

In August FERC cleared one storage project for in-service, with a capacity of 2 Bcf, and issued certificates for three storage projects, which would add 13 Bcf of storage capacity and 295 MMcf/d of deliverability. In addition, FERC said a 16.6 Bcf storage project was proposed in August.

According to the Commission, six storage projects have been placed in service through Aug. 31, compared with nine for the same period in 2010. While the new storage capacity placed in service through Aug. 31 (27.3 Bcf) is almost half of what was put in operation during the comparable period last year (52.4 Bcf), new deliverability is nearly double this year (2,545 MMcf/d) compared to 1,721 MMcf/d.

And 10 storage projects (with total capacity of 151 Bcf and deliverability of 3,495 MMcf/d) have been certificated through Aug. 31, compared with 13 (with capacity of 120 Bcf and deliverability of 4,763 MMcf/d) in the comparable period in 2010.

No liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal projects were placed in service or certificated in August, FERC said. And only one LNG project — Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC — got the green light to place into service its import terminal operations this year (see NGI, May 16). Golden Pass has the capability to send out up to 2.5 Bcf/d of regasified LNG. The $1 billion terminal, which is considered one of the largest in the world, is located in Sabine Pass, TX, just south of Port Arthur.

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