Keith

The Transco pipeline system’s capacity has increased by 204,099 Dth/d with the start-up of the SouthCoast Expansion project, said parent company Williams. The $108 million expansion provides additional firm transportation capacity to gas markets in Alabama and Georgia. The expansion loops 44 miles of pipeline and adds 31,500 hp of compression at stations in Rockford, AL, and Newnan, GA. The facilities add capacity to Transco’s mainline from Station 85 in Butler, AL, to delivery points within zone four. The expansion will serve Atlanta Gas Light, Georgia Power and a new power generation plant to be built by the South Carolina Public Service Authority. FERC approved the SouthCoast Expansion in May (see NGI, Sept. 4). Transco also has numerous other expansions on the drawing board. The 38-mile, 236,000 Dth/d Sundance project will loop the southern mainline in spring 2002. The 152 mile, 700,000 Dth/d MarketLink project will loop the Leidy line in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And the 125,000 Dth/d Cross Bay project will increase deliveries into New York City. The company cited robust economic growth and the subsequent development of gas-fired power generation facilities as the main force driving these expansions.

OGE Energy Corp. announced that E. Keith Mitchell has beenappointed to the position of vice president of gas services atEnogex Inc., OGE Energy’s natural gas pipeline subsidiary. Mitchellwill continue to report directly to Enogex President Roger A.Farrell and will ultimately be responsible for the marketing andsale of gas transportation, gas liquids, and related services.

Williams Chairman Keith E. Bailey said Tuesday the company’sunaudited third quarter financials, which are expected to bereleased today, will include $70 million, or 10 cents per share, inpre-tax charges and write-downs.