A Sempra Energy affiliate has launched a binding open season soliciting bids for additional long-term firm transportation service on the Texas Connector Project, which would link the proposed Port Arthur liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility to various interstate pipelines. 

The 34.2 mile-system was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last year and its nearly 2 Bcf/d of capacity has been subscribed under long-term precedent agreements. But Port Arthur Pipeline LLC said in the open season notice last week that it expects to add about 1.1 Bcf/d of capacity to the project’s north segment due to changes in design and upstream receipt pressure that would boost the overall system’s capacity to 3.1 Bcf/d. 

The Texas Connector would be located in Orange...