Trunkline Gas Co. LLC has filed an amended application seeking the go-ahead to increase the size of a FERC-approved pipe looping project that would serve affiliate Trunkline LNG’s proposed expansion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Lake Charles, LA.

Trunkline Gas is seeking to expand the size of the proposed 23-mile line to 36 inches in diameter from 30 inches to accommodate the “presently contracted, as well as potentially expanded, levels of regasified LNG volumes” of the pipe loop’s sole customer, BG LNG, the pipeline told FERC. It also proposes to make modifications at proposed interconnection facilities. Trunkline Gas said it did not intend to increase the LNG loop project’s authorized take-away capacity from the Lake Charles terminal at this time.

FERC, in a mid-September order, approved the Trunkline Gas project as a 30-inch diameter pipeline that would loop its existing system, as well as the Phase II expansion of Trunkline LNG’s Lake Charles terminal. Trunkline LNG estimates the terminal expansion would take 27 months to construct, and would likely go into service by 2006 (see Daily GPI, Sept. 16).

The Phase II terminal expansion and associated pipeline loop will boost send-out capacity from the terminal by an incremental 50%, to 1.8 Bcf/d on a sustained basis, with a peak of 2.1 Bcf/d. The additional capacity will be fully contracted to BG LNG under an agreement expiring in 2023. BG LNG has signed a long-term agreement for the transportation on the new pipeline facilities.

Trunkline LNG currently is building the Phase I expansion of the Lake Charles LNG terminal, which will raise send-out capacity to 1.2 Bcf/d from its existing 630 MMcf/d and expand terminal storage capacity to 9 Bcf from its current 6.3 Bcf. Phase I, which was approved by FERC in 2003, is slated to be completed and in service in December 2005.

Both Trunkline LNG and Trunkline Gas pipeline are subsidiaries of Wilkes Barre, PA-based Southern Union.

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