Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline is planning to further expand its mainline system based on Canadian and U.S. interest in additional transportation capacity. The proposed Phase V expansion would serve markets in the Northeast and Eastern Canada.

Based upon the results of a nonbinding open season held over summer 2007, Maritimes expects to increase the capacity of its U.S. mainline system by approximately 170,000 Dth/d of year-round firm capacity and utilize approximately 30,000 Dth/d of available seasonal capacity from November through March.

A binding open season now under way will close at 5 p.m. EST Jan. 18. The pipeline will determine the facilities required for the Phase V project following the binding open season. The project is expected to begin service in late 2010.

Construction on Maritimes Phase IV began early last year (see NGI, Sept. 10, 2007). Maritimes will transport regasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Canaport LNG receiving and regasification terminal currently being constructed in Saint John, NB. Canaport LNG is a limited partnership of subsidiaries of Repsol YPF and Irving Oil Ltd. Repsol Energy Canada has contracted for 100% of Canaport LNG’s capacity. The terminal is expected to begin operation in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Last November EnCana Corp. named an operator for its Deep Panuke mobile production unit off the coast of Nova Scotia. Produced gas from Deep Panuke is to come ashore at Goldboro, NS, via subsea pipeline and be carried to market on Maritimes (see NGI, Nov. 12, 2007).

Maritimes is owned by affiliates of Spectra Energy, Emera Inc. and ExxonMobil Corp. and is headquartered in Halifax, NS, with an additional office in Waltham, MA. For information on the open season, contact Rob Whitwham at (902) 425-0628 or rlwhitwham@spectraenergy.com.

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