The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has awarded certificates to Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP to expand lateral facilities to accommodate the growing demand for natural gas in Florida, and to Northwest Pipeline to relocate and replace pipeline facilities to make way for the construction of a planned dam in Colorado.

The Gulf South certificate gives the pipeline the go-ahead to increase the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of its Mobile Bay Lateral in Mobile County, AL, to 976 psig from 892 psig, which would boost the capacity for gas deliveries to the Sunshine State by approximately 236 MMcf/d, according to the FERC order [CP02-407]. The lateral has the potential to operate at a MAOP of at least 1,073 psig. The project would not involve the construction or abandonment of facilities.

The 30-inch diameter lateral delivers Gulf of Mexico gas into the Alabama-to-Florida Gulfstream Natural Gas System and Florida Gas Transmission’s pipeline. It receives the gas from Shell Offshore Inc.’s “Yellowhammer” processing plant, an ExxonMobil Corp. plant, Mobile Area Gathering System, Dauphin Island Gathering System, Mobile Bay Processing Partners, and a Williams Field Services’ processing plant.

Separately, Northwest Pipeline got the green light to relocate and replace existing pipeline and tap facilities in Colorado to accommodate the planned construction of the Ridges Basin Dam and Reservoir, a major project that will provide water to municipal and industrial users in the Four Corners Region of Colorado and New Mexico.

The project calls for Northwest to replace abandoned facilities by constructing 6.9 miles of 26-inch diameter pipeline and new tap facilities in LaPlata County, CO. The replacement facilities will be located in a new right-of-way just north of Northwest’s existing mainline and north of the new dam and reservoir, the order noted [CP02-423]. No new capacity will be created and no new markets will be served by the project.

Northwest said the new facilities, which will cost approximately $16.9 million, are expected to be completed by the summer of 2003. The pipeline will be reimbursed for the project cost by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which will build the dam and reservoir.

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