Christopher E. Smith
OGJ Pipeline Editor
HOUSTON, Mar. 5 -- An intrastate natural gas pipeline that extends from Alaska's North Slope (ANS) to the Cook Inlet area could cost $4 billion and be in service as early as 2015, according to state-appointed project manager Harry Noah. The line would provide gas to meet Alaskan space heating and industrial demand.
The 800-mile, 24-in. OD pipeline would use two compressor stations and deliver about 500 MMcfd. Alaska sees the line as a complement to an eventual trans-Alaska gas pipeline delivering supplies to the Lower 48.
Two proposals for a natural gas pipeline from ANS into Canada have advanced to the detailed planning and project development stage, the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission told Congress on Feb. 20. "At this point in project development, both Denali and TC Alaska are now fully working towards obtaining quality information to conduct their respective open seasons to obtain shippers for their pipeline," FERC said in its seventh report to federal lawmakers on the project (OGJ, Mar. 2, 2009, p. 27).
Noah named a number of tasks to be completed on the in-state line by June 2011, including guaranteeing a gas supply, obtaining commitments from purchaser, establishing tariffs, obtaining permits, and turning the project over to a builder-operator. He also said the project would build on work completed by Enstar and the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority.
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
