FERC last Wednesday gave Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) the green light to begin service from most of the expanded facilities at its North Lansing Storage Field in Harrison County, TX.

The project, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved in January 2006, was designed to add 10 Bcf of working gas capacity and increase NGPL’s peak-day withdrawal and late-season withdrawal capabilities at the Texas storage site (see NGI, Jan. 30, 2006).

The latest order allows the Kinder Morgan Energy Partners pipeline to begin operating an 8.7-mile, 30-inch diameter loop pipeline, a 30-inch tap and associated pipeline, 12 new injection/withdrawal wells, and new and upgraded meter facilities [CP05-405]. “This approval does not allow service commencement or use of any facilities other than the ones specified,” the order said.

The new facilities allow NGPL to convert 10 Bcf of cushion gas to working gas, increasing the working gas capacity of the North Lansing Storage site to 95.2 Bcf. The storage expansion, which cost approximately $50 million, increases North Lansing’s certificate peak-day withdrawal level to 1,240 MMcf/d from 1,100 MMcf/d, according to the pipeline.

The maximum total inventory of the North Lansing Field will remain the same at 156 Bcf. The storage field is located at the south end of NGPL’s 10,000-mile pipeline system, and is accessible to customers serving the Gulf Coast and East Coast markets.

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