Christopher E. Smith
OGJ Pipeline Editor
HOUSTON, Aug. 3--Natural gas service on the roughly 500-mile Midcontinent Express Pipeline (MEP) began Aug. 1 between Delhi, La., and Transcontinental Pipe Line’s Station 85 in Butler, Ala. Interim service from Bennington, Okla., to Delhi began in April.
Completion of the final segment of MEP connects production from the Barnett shale, Bossier sands, and other plays in the region to the eastern US. MEP has multiple receipt and delivery points along its length, crossing northeastern Texas, northern Louisiana, and central Mississippi between Oklahoma and Alabama.
Capacity is currently 1.25 bcfd in Zone 1, which interconnects with the Columbia Gulf Transmission system in Delhi and up to 0.84 bcfd in Zone 2, which interconnects with the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line system in Butler. An expected 2010 expansion of the pipeline will further increase MEP’s capacity to about 1.8 bcfd in Zone 1 and 1.2 bcfd in Zone 2. The pipeline’s capacity, including the expansion capacity, is fully subscribed by long-term binding commitments.
Construction of two additional compression stations, one in Cass County, Tex., and a second in Hinds County, Miss., will start in fall 2009 to meet this expansion timeline.
MEP is a joint venture of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP and Energy Transfer Partners LP. Kinder Morgan constructed and will operate the pipeline.
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
