By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 2 -- Alliance Pipeline Inc. and Questar Overthrust Pipeline Co. plan to launch a binding open season May 12 to assess interest in shipping natural gas on the companies' proposed Rockies Alliance Pipeline from Wamsutter, Wyo., to connections at the US-Canada border at the northwest corner of Minnesota.
The proposed 800-mile, 42-in. line, which would traverse the Powder River and Southwest Wyoming basins, could also accept gas from the Green River and Uinta-Piceance basins.
Ending at Manitoba's Emerson hub, it could move gas from the Rockies basins to markets in the US Midwest and central Canada via connections with Alliance Pipeline, Northern Border, Great Lakes Transmission, and TransCanada pipelines.
Rockies Alliance would compete with TransCanada's proposed Pathfinder pipeline from Wamsutter to a connection with Northern Border in North Dakota (OGJ, Apr. 18, 2008, Newsletter).
Alliance and Questar plan to work with prospective shippers to determine the most efficient size, route, and in-service date.
Subject to obtaining shipper commitments and regulatory approvals, the pipeline could be in service as early as the third quarter of 2011.
Alliance Pipeline LP (Alliance USA) owns the US portion of the Alliance Pipeline system. Alliance USA is owned 50% each by affiliates of Enbridge Inc. and Fort Chicago Energy Partners LP.
Alliance Pipeline LP (Alliance Canada) owns the Canadian portion of the Alliance Pipeline system. Alliance Canada is owned 50% each by affiliates of Enbridge Income Fund and Fort Chicago Energy Partners.
