Looking to evaluate interest in the expansion of daily and seasonal storage capacity from its natural gas storage complex, Texas Gas Transmission LLC on Monday announced a non-binding open season for firm storage service (FSS) and no-notice service (NNS) at its Western Kentucky storage facilities.

The open season, which began Monday, will end at 5 p.m. CST, Friday, Jan. 30. Texas Gas said it is currently evaluating the need for new services, as well as more storage. The Loews Corp. subsidiary owns and operates a 5,800-mile pipeline system that transports natural gas from the Gulf Coast, East Texas and North Louisiana to U.S. markets through the South and Midwest.

Kathy Kirk, vice president of Texas Gas Commercial Services, said the decision to hold an open season followed customer requests for more firm storage services than the company could provide. “This is the first step to expanding our storage capacity for our customers,” Kirk said. “Open season requests will tell us a lot about market demands. If there’s enough interest, we will consider developing new services under new rate schedules.”

Texas Gas said that if the interest is there, it may proceed with plans to install additional compression at one of its Western Kentucky storage facilities. The new facilities could provide incremental daily withdrawals up to 150 MMcf and seasonal storage capacity up to 8.2 Bcf. The expansion would likely be in service by Nov. 1, 2005.

For more information about the open season, contact Kathy Kirk, vice president of commercial services, (270) 688-6900. A non-binding service request form can be obtained by calling Texas Gas at (800) 626-1948, or by visiting www.gasquest.txgt.com.

©Copyright 2004 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.