Connector

Newcomer XcL Midstream LLC, founded this year, said it has a binding anchor shipper commitment from an affiliate of Tug Hill Inc. for its Appalachia Connector Pipeline.

Pomelo Connector LLC has filed at FERC for permission to construct a 14-mile pipeline in Texas connecting Texas Eastern Transmission LP (Tetco) with the proposed Valley Crossing Pipeline LLC in support of a system that would enable export of U.S. natural gas to Mexico.

Williams Partners LP has signed up two shippers for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co.’s (Transco) Gulf Connector project, which would enable bi-directional flow on a portion of Transco between Louisiana and South Texas. The capacity would serve two liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals.

An EQT Midstream Partners LP subsidiary has filed an application with FERC seeking approval to construct its Ohio Valley Connector project, which would extend the Equitrans transmission system from northwestern West Virginia to Clarington, OH.

Equitrans LP is holding a nonbinding open season through March 13 for firm transmission and storage capacity on a system to be known as Allegheny Valley Connector, which would consist of transmission and storage assets that are expected to transfer to EQT Corp. as part of a transaction with Peoples Natural Gas Co. LLC. EQT is the parent of Equitrans through its EQT Midstream Partners LP. The system is in the Marcellus Shale region, and its primary function is to store and transport gas to Peoples interconnects, including gas for use by Peoples and other suppliers. Information is at www.eqtmidstreampartners.com.

FERC Wednesday granted Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line’s (Transco) request to place into service some of its Mid-Atlantic Connector expansion facilities to meet the growing demand for natural gas in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC.

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) has asked FERC for the go-ahead to place certain of its Mid-Atlantic Connector expansion facilities into service by the end of the month.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line’s (Transco) proposed 142,000 Dth/d expansion, the Mid-Atlantic Connector (MAC), which calls for the construction of 42-inch diameter pipeline extending from Transco’s Compressor Station 185 in Prince William County, VA, to Fairfax County, VA; the abandonment and replacement of pipeline in Fairfax County; and the construction of a 3,550-hp internal combustion-driven compressor unit at Transco’s existing Compressor Station 165 in Pittsylvania County, VA [CP11-31]. Transco, a subsidiary of Williams Partners LP, also plans to install one 33,000-hp electric motor-driven compressor unit at its Compressor Station 175 in Fluvanna County, VA, and to abandon four 4,400-hp internal combustion-driven compressor units, leaving it with a net addition of 15,400 hp at Compressor Station 175. The pipeline estimates that the expansion, to be completed in late 2012, will cost $55 million (see NGI, July 20, 2009). When completed, the MAC expansion will provide Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc. and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. with incremental firm transportation capacity from a Transco interconnection with East Tennessee Natural Gas pipeline in Rockingham County, NC, to delivery points as far north as Maryland. Other supply points in the path of the project include interconnects with Columbia Gas Transmission, Dominion Transmission and Dominion Cove Point.

Discovery Producer Services LLC is holding a nonbinding open season through Aug. 6 to gauge interest in the Keathley Canyon Connector natural gas pipeline in the central Gulf of Mexico. The new deepwater natural gas gathering line would originate in the southeast corner of the Keathley Canyon area in around 7,000 feet of water where several large discoveries and prospects are located, said Discovery, which is owned by operator Williams Partners LP (60%) and DCP Midstream Partners LP (40%). The gathering pipeline is expected to be 150-200 miles long, depending on the final route selection, with capacity of up to 400 MMcf/d of natural gas. A confidentiality agreement and a nonbinding expression of interest form is available from Ed McMichael at (713) 215-4323.