A unit of Williams is holding an open season Wednesday through Oct. 29 to gauge interest in a proposed interstate gas pipeline that would connect Rockies supplies to Northeast markets.

Williams said its proposed Rockies Connector Pipeline would extend approximately 250 miles, connecting its Transco Station 195 in York County, PA, to the eastern terminus of Rockies Express pipeline (REX), which is being developed by a consortium of third parties (see Daily GPI, May 1). The nearly 1,700-mile REX originates in the Piceance Basin in Rio Blanco County, CO. The capacity, scope and cost of Rockies Connector will be determined by open season results.

The company expects the pipeline to transport approximately 688,000 Dth/d, or enough energy to heat about three million homes. Firm transportation service is anticipated to be available by November 2010.

“The Rockies Connector Pipeline would provide a vital link to connect the Rocky Mountain supply basins with existing infrastructure currently serving the natural gas demand in the Northeast,” said Phil Wright, president of Williams’ natural gas pipeline business. “We believe the size of our proposed Rockies Connector Pipeline is appropriate for the expected market commitment,” Wright said, “and would be in service at the right time to serve customer needs.

“Additionally, the proposed Rockies Connector Pipeline will help alleviate the infrastructure constraints in the Rockies, extend the reach of natural gas from those basins and bring supply diversity to some of the nation’s largest markets in the Northeast”.

Williams’ Transco pipeline system delivers about half of the natural gas consumed in New York City, as well as serving other East Coast markets. Gas delivered via the Rockies Connector Pipeline would be available to Transco shippers and other interstate pipelines serving the Northeast. The Transco system stretches from the Gulf Coast up the Eastern Seaboard to serve major markets in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

REX has spawned a number of interconnects and tie-in projects, particularly to move gas to eastern markets (see Daily GPI, Sept. 14). In a recent report, Bentek Energy LLC called for more capacity to move REX gas eastward from the pipeline’s ultimate terminus in Ohio (see Daily GPI, Aug. 10).

One REX-related project on the supply end, announced last month, is a header system proposed by Questar Pipeline Co. and an affiliate of Enterprise Products Partners LP in Colorado (see Daily GPI, Aug. 28).

Transco last week announced an open season for a project targeting new domestic and liquefied natural gas at its Station 85 for markets in the Southeast (see Daily GPI, Sept. 19), which is seen by some as the fastest growing region of the country (see Daily GPI, Sept. 26).

Rockies Connector Pipeline will be subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other agencies. For customer inquiries, contact Gary Duvall at (713) 215-2589.

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