Williams solicits Marcellus shippers for Transco expansion

March 5, 2010
A unit of Williams Partners LP has initiated a binding open season Mar. 4-26 for expansion of its Transco natural gas pipeline, providing incremental firm gas transportation capacity from the Marcellus shale to markets in New York and New Jersey.

Christopher E. Smith
OGJ Pipeline Editor

HOUSTON, Mar. 5 -- A unit of Williams Partners LP has initiated a binding open season Mar. 4-26 for expansion of its Transco natural gas pipeline, providing incremental firm gas transportation capacity from the Marcellus shale to markets in New York and New Jersey.

The Northeast Supply Link expansion project is designed to provide 420 MMcfd firm service on the Transco line from interconnections accessing Marcellus production along its Leidy line in Pennsylvania to its Station 210 pooling point and existing New York City delivery points.

Transco has executed a precedent agreement with an anchor shipper for 200 MMcfd, with the remaining 220 MMcfd offered through the open season.

Subject to regulatory approval, Williams expects the first phase of the project to enter service in November 2012, adding 120 MMcfd. The second phase would follow in November 2013, bringing the expansion to full capacity.

Williams Cos. Inc. entered joint ventures in 2009 with both Rex Energy Corp. and Atlas Pipeline Partners LP fortifying its position in the Marcellus shale (OGJ Online July 9, 2009 and Apr. 2, 2009). The partnership with Atlas is a 51% holding in Laurel Mountain Midstream LLC, which manages the gas gathering system in the Marcellus shale region of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].