The Williams Cos.’ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) filed an application at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Tuesday proposing to expand its system by an incremental 142,000 Dth/d of firm transportation capacity to serve growing natural gas markets in the Mid-Atlantic region by November 2012.

When completed, the Mid-Atlantic Connector 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, said Transco, a subsidiary of Williams Partners LP. Other supply points in the path of the project include interconnects with Columbia Gas Transmission, Dominion Transmission and Dominion Cove Point.

Earlier this year Williams indicated that it had executed precedent agreements for the entire capacity of the Mid-Atlantic Connector expansion project (see Daily GPI, Jan. 25).

“We appreciate our shippers’ willingness to commit to this project and we look forward to working with them to provide reliable natural gas service for years to come,” said Phil Wright, president of Williams’ natural gas pipeline business.

The proposed expansion will consist of approximately three miles of pipeline looping and upgrades to existing compressor facilities in Virginia, according to Transco. The pipeline estimated the capital cost of the project at $55 million.

The Transco pipeline is a 10,000-mile system that transport natural gas, primarily sourced in the Gulf of Mexico, to markets throughout the northeastern and southeastern United States. Its current capacity is about 8.6 Bcf/d.

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