FERC approves Northwest Pipeline's Piceance expansion

Dec. 2, 2009
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a certificate to Northwest Pipeline GP, a majority owned subsidiary of Williams Cos. Inc., approving construction and operation of 15.5 miles of 30-in. OD mainline loop to bring additional natural gas from Piceance basin to the hub in Opal, Wyo.

Christopher E. Smith
OGJ Pipeline Editor

HOUSTON, Dec. 2 -- The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a certificate to Northwest Pipeline GP, a majority owned subsidiary of Williams Cos. Inc., approving construction and operation of 15.5 miles of 30-in. OD mainline loop to bring additional natural gas from Piceance basin to the hub in Opal, Wyo.

The Sundance Trail Expansion will provide 150 MMcfd firm transportation capacity from the Greasewood and Meeker-White River hubs in Rio Blanco County, Colo., to the Opal hub area in Lincoln County, Wyo. At the Opal hub, producers have access to six interstate pipelines, including Northwest, Williams said.

The project will also replace and enhance Northwest’s compression facilities at the Vernal compressor station in Uintah County, Utah. Northwest’s main line is connected to the Piceance at the Greasewood hub through its Piceance lateral and the Meeker-White River hubs through Northwest’s new Colorado Hub Connection pipeline and related facilities.

Williams began operations Aug. 7 at its 450-MMcfd Willow Creek gas processing plant in the Piceance basin. The Willow Creek plant is currently recovering about 20,000 b/d of natural gas liquids (OGJ, Nov. 16, 2009, p. 21).

Williams Pipeline Partners LP owns a 35% interest in Northwest.

Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].