Salt Lake City-based Questar Pipeline Co. Tuesday announced an open season to gauge the level of interest in added interstate natural gas pipeline capacity in the Rockies between the Piceance Basin in western Colorado and the Kanda/Coleman hub in southwestern Wyoming. The open season will run through Sept. 5, Questar said. Potential volumes are in the 300-500 MMcf/d range, according to a Questar market representative.

Based on the response, Questar will determine what it considers the optimal size of its expansion, along with the receipt and delivery points for potential shippers to use beginning in about mid-year 2006. The expansion has no estimated cost at this stage and is expected to cover two sections with a total distance of 160 miles. Depending on the volumes requested, Questar said, additional compression might be required.

Envisioned is a new 80-mile pipeline from Piceance Basin in a northerly direction to a point near the Wyoming-Colorado border, and a second section of proposed looping of existing pipeline over another 80-mile stretch westerly from the Kanda/Coleman hub. Access to the larger Kern River Gas Transmission and Northwest Pipeline systems might also be an offshoot of Questar’s proposed expansion.

Questar said it was soliciting support for construction of a new pipeline from Greasewood, CO, and potential extensions to Rifle, CO, for delivery to the existing Kanda/Coleman hub near Rock Springs, WY. “Questar Pipeline’s Kanda/Coleman hub provides direct delivery to Overthrust Pipeline, Wyoming Interstate Co. and Colorado Interstate Gas,” the company said in announcing the open season.

“Expansion to this hub also would provide delivery access to Clay Basin storage and Questar Gas Co. via Questar Pipeline, as well as deliveries to Northwest Pipeline and Kern River Gas Transmission through Questar Pipeline’s existing systems.” Questar also said that depending on the interest, the expansion could provide firm transportation service to delivery points on Questar Pipeline’s southern System.

The company said bids could be mailed or faxed to Questar Pipeline Co., 180 East 100 South, P.O. Box 45360, Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0360, attention: Theresa Harrison. The fax number is: (801)324-2980.

Copies of the bid forms and details of the open season, including the bid requirements, can be obtained online at www.questarpipeline.com.

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