A subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy has extended an open season through June 25 for its developing Pine Prairie salt dome natural gas storage project in Evangeline Parish, LA, which eventually is expected to have 11 pipeline interconnections. The deadline originally had been set for June 21.

Due to technical difficulties with a fax, Sempra’s Pine Prairie Energy Center gave potential customers more time to submit offers through 5 p.m. on Friday, and lined up a new fax number: (203) 226-6890. The bid solicitation process was “going very well” in terms of the level and volume of interest, a spokesperson said.

The 24 Bcf storage project currently is scheduled to begin commercial operations the fourth quarter of next year near the Henry Hub, the nation’s largest natural gas trading center (see Daily GPI, May 27).

Development plans for Pine Prairie call for three salt caverns with a total working capacity of 24 Bcf, injection capacity up to 1.2 Bcf/d, and maximum withdrawals of 2.4 Bcf/d, according to Sempra Energy Global Enterprises. The new storage facility will offer firm services as well as interruptible hub services from its eight interstate and three intrastate pipeline interconnections.

In early July, Pine Prairie Energy Center will seek approval to start construction and eventual operations from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Sempra said.

The eight interstate pipelines that will be interconnected with the new storage facility are ANR Pipeline Southeast-& ML-2, Columbia Gulf-Mainline, Florida Gas-Zone 2, Tennessee Gas-Zone L 800 Leg, Texas Eastern-WLA Access Zone, Texas Gas-Zone SL and Transco Zone 3. The three intrastate pipelines are Cypress Gas Pipeline, Gulf South Pipeline and Louisiana Intrastate Gas. Additional information is available at www.pineprairieenergycenter.com.

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