Kern River Gas Transmission Co., in operation only 6 months, has its sights set on a second capacity expansion project.
It will conduct an open season starting immediately and ending Oct. 30 to determine shippers' interest in an expansion of its system that transports gas from Southwest Wyoming to southern California.
Adding compression between Opal, Wyo., and Daggett, Calif., could step up main line capacity by as much as 200 MMcfd and provide direct access from the Rocky Mountains and other supply areas to markets in Las Vegas and northern California.
Kern River provides access to gas basins in the Rocky Mountains through connections with Northwest Pipeline Corp., Colorado Interstate Gas Co., and Questar Pipeline Co. Deliveries to northern California could be made through Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s Line 300 or Mojave Pipeline Co.'s proposed extension.
"A successful open season on Kern River will indicate support for expansion of PG&E's Line 300 into northern California," said E.J. Holm, Kern River president. "In addition, PG&E has proposed a program to offer discounts to customers who might bypass the PG&E system. Kern River could work with P(j&E to provide reliable supply to these customers.
Holm said Kern River, a 700 MMcfd system, is running at full capacity.
"We need the new capacity to provide additional service to markets in Nevada and northern California."
Possible expansion as a result of the open season is in addition to a planned 452 MMcfd boost to accommodate volumes from Altamont Gas Transmission Co.'s proposed pipeline. Altamont last month disclosed a 1 year delay to November 1994 in its project to lay a 620 mile line to deliver Canadian gas to a connection with Kern River at Opal (OGJ, Aug. 3, p. 27).
Kern River is a joint venture between subsidiaries of Tenneco Inc., Houston, and Williams Cos. Inc., Tulsa.
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