Duke Energy’s Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) pipeline announced last Monday that it is conducting an open season to test shipper interest in an expansion project that would transport natural gas from prolific western supply basins in North America to energy-hungry markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

The nonbinding open season for transportation capacity on the so-called Texas Eastern Market-Area Crossing (TEMAX) project will run through July 31. The project would allow shippers to receive new gas supplies from western supply basins at various points along the Tetco system through enhancement of the existing mainline infrastructure and incremental expansion, the pipeline said.

Shippers also would be able to take advantage of the recently announced Mid-Continent pipeline projects, including a 1,600-mile West-to-East pipeline that Duke Energy Gas Transmission and CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission are looking to build. That line, the Mid-Continent Crossing Project, would stretch from West Texas to the metropolitan Pittsburgh, PA, area (see NGI, June 5).

Natural gas from the West is anticipated to enter the Tetco system for delivery to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets at various locations, including Bald Knob, AR; Clarington, OH; and Oakford/Delmont, PA, according to the Duke Energy pipeline. The project design will incorporate the use of Tetco’s existing facilities and rights-of-way when possible, providing a direct connection to markets served by Tetco customers, it said.

“Texas Eastern’s proximity to new pipeline projects connected to western supply basins provides our customers with a unique opportunity to take advantage of new supply sources,” said Greg Rizzo, group vice president of Northeast transmission and storage.

TEMAX is consistent with other pipeline projects that Duke Energy is committed to in the Northeast, such as the proposed Excelerate Northeast Gateway, Repsol Canaport and BP Crown Landing LNG facilities, Tetco said. It noted the requests made by shippers during Tetco’s already completed Lebanon East Expansion open season will be merged with the results of this open season to determine the most cost-effective project that meets all shippers needs (see NGI, March 20). The Lebanon East project, as envisioned, would provide additional capacity to serve markets in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

For further information, interested shippers should contact Rob Hansen, project director, at (617) 560-1549 or RNHansen@duke-energy.com.

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