The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted preliminary approval for Questar Pipeline Co. to construct a 75-mile natural gas pipeline.
The $80 million, 24-in. line, to be dubbed Main Line 104, will extend from Price, Utah, to Payson, Utah, then 18 miles west, where it will tie into a Kern River Gas Transmission Co. line near Elberta, Utah.
The 1,400 psi line is anticipated to be in service prior to the 2001-2002 winter heating season and will provide at least 272,000 dekatherms/day of firm gas transportation for delivery to Wasatch Front markets and the proposed interconnect.
"Demand for natural gas is at an all-time high. Because of its environmental benefits, natural gas has become a year-round commodity. This pipeline will move economical and much-needed coal-seam gas from central Utah to the market," said Nick Rose, president and CEO of Questar Pipeline. "The current energy crunch is an infrastructure problem as much as anything. We need more wells and pipelines to provide new outlets for the increasing natural gas production tied to our system."
Final FERC approval is contingent on an environmental impact statement.
Questar awarded Sterling Construction of Sterling, Colo., a contract to build the pipeline. Mountain West Construction Co. of Fruita, Colo., will design and install 9,300 hp of additional compression at Questar Pipeline's Oak Springs Compressor Station near Price, Utah.
Questar Pipeline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Questar Corp., Salt Lake City.
