By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, July 30 -- East Tennessee Natural Gas will more than double the planned capacity on its proposed Patriot gas pipeline extension due to customer interest.
Parent company Duke Energy Gas Transmission, itself a unit of Duke Energy Corp., Charlotte, NC, said ETNG has filed an application with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build a 510 MMcfd extension.
Seven customers have committed to 87% of delivery capacity, said DEGT, noting this commitment is more than double the 200 MMcfd of capacity originally envisioned.
The $289 million, 95-mile project will extend the existing line from Virginia into North Carolina. ETNG also will expand its existing system (OGJ Online, Oct. 24, 2000).
DEGT Pres. Robert B. Evans said, "Completing the loop of our southern mainline leg, adding compression to the northern portion in Tennessee, and adding large-diameter looping in Virginia will considerably enhance the system's reliability."
ETNG is asking FERC for a preliminary determination by Nov. 15 and a final certificate by Mar. 27. ETNG projects it can begin construction in July 2002 to meet an initial in-service date of May 1, 2003.
The proposed Patriot project will have three phases: the first will have 130 MMcfd of capacity; the second will increase capacity to 310 MMcfd in November 2003; and the third will increase capacity to 510 MMcfd in January 2004.
