By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 16 -- Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Co. has launched a $100-130 million project to boost delivery capacity from its Baker natural gas storage field in eastern Montana by April 2012.
Part of the project is an expansion of the company’s gas pipeline system that connects Baker, the largest gas storage field in the US, with Northern Border Pipeline north of Dickinson, ND.
The company would add as much as 125 MMcfd to existing firm storage deliverability capacity from Baker by drilling new wells, adding compression, replacing and looping gathering lines, and looping pipelines between Baker and Northern Border.
Withdrawal capacity of 115 MMcfd at Baker would be more than doubled if shipper interest exists. A binding open season for the project began Feb. 16 and ends Mar. 18, 2010, said Steven L. Bietz, WBI president and chief executive officer.
“Usage of our storage facilities reached record levels in 2009 and we are currently sold out of firm storage capacity so this is an excellent time to move forward with an enhancement of our Baker storage field,” said Bietz.
Baker is one of three storage fields owned and operated by WBI at which working gas capacity totals 193 bcf. The other two are Elk Basin and Billy Creek fields in northern Wyoming.