Increased gas delivery to US Southeast on track for 2002

Nov. 12, 2001
Modification of Williams Gas Pipeline Corp.'s 1,800-mile Transco Pipeline System from South Texas to New York is well under way this fall as part of the company's $134-million Sundance expansion project.
At Williams' Compressor Station No. 125, Walton County, Ga., workers ready formwork for a compressor foundation that will enclose piping and support a new 15,000-hp combustion turbine-driven centrifugal compression train.
Click here to enlarge image

Modification of Williams Gas Pipeline Corp.'s 1,800-mile Transco Pipeline System from South Texas to New York is well under way this fall as part of the company's $134-million Sundance expansion project. In-service will be spring 2002, expanding delivery capacity from Station 65 in Louisiana to Station 165 in Virginia.

Approx imately 38 miles of new pipeline will be installed along with modifications to four compressor stations in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina to add more than 236 MMcfd of firm delivery capacity to Georgia and the Carolinas.

Sunland Construction Inc., Eunice, La., is overall contractor and in charge of construction. Paragon Engineering Services Inc., Houston, is providing engineering, design, and procurement services.

Compressor work

The four compressor stations tie in to 30-in. and 36-in. mainlines. Under going modifications are the following:

  • Station No. 105, Coosa County, Ala., with the installation of mainline tie-ins and yard piping additions and modifications to increase station capacity.
  • Station No. 115, Coweta County, Ga., with installation of a new 18,975-hp electric motor-driven centrifugal compression train and uprating of two existing compressor units for total additional compression of 25,425 hp.
  • Station No. 125, Walton County, Ga., with installation of a new 15,000-hp combustion turbine-driven centrifugal compression train and uprating of an existing compressor unit for total added compression of 15,800 hp.
  • Station No. 150, Iredell County, NC, with installation of seven new gas coolers and a motor control center to provide additional gas cooling.
At Compression Station No. 115, Coweta County, Ga., engineers designed these tie-ins to the exposed 30 and 36-in. pipelines for expansion of the station as part of the Sundance project. (Photograph from Paragon Engineering Services Inc., Houston)
Click here to enlarge image

The project addresses critical gas needs in the southeastern US, according to Richard Duhon, Paragon's project engineer. Demand over the next decade could reach 10 bcfd and is driving the fast-track Sundance project, he says.

The project is supported by 15-year firm transportation agreements with 12 customers. Service is scheduled to begin in May 2002.

Paragon's pipeline group assisted in the development of the original US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission application package, filed in 2000, with the goal of second quarter 2002 start-up.

Williams expedited material deliveries from some 40 suppliers nationwide and moved up construction start dates by about 1 month. Receipt of materials for Station No. 115 actually moved up by 11/2 months to mid-June 2001, says Duhon.