Four Corners Gas Transmission Co. is developing a proposal to convert the Four Corners Pipe Line Co. system from crude oil to natural gas service and reverse the flow from west-east to east-west.
Both Four Corners companies are units of ARCO.
The $90 million project, if carried out, will move more San Juan basin gas to West Coast markets. It calls for conversion and flow reversal of about 385 miles of Line 90 between the California border near Needles and Red Mesa, Utah, and 81 miles of Line 92 between Bisti, N.M., and Red Mesa.
The plan includes construction of several compressor stations, pressure regulator stations, various metering sites, and more than 20 miles of pipeline.
The proposed project, which would begin service by mid-1993 depending on market interest and regulatory approvals, would have a capacity of as much as 100 MMcfd.
Preliminary engineering and environmental studies for the project are complete.
Four Comers Gas is contacting potential shippers such as producers, end users, and marketers to determine their transportation needs.
Gerald D. Secundy, president of Four Corners Gas, said, "We believe conversion of a currently underutilized pipeline to natural gas service allows quicker access to western markets, compared with building a new line through environmentally sensitive sections of the Southwest."
Conversion of the eastern section of Line 90 will have no effect on a proposal by Four Corners Pipe Line to transport offshore California crude oil from the Point Arguello development project through the San Joaquin Valley to refiners in the Los Angeles Basin via Line 90.
The proposed offshore crude oil movement involves only the western portion of Line 90 beginning near Cadiz, Calif.
Connections with other natural gas pipelines serving western U.S. are possible at Needles.
Depending on interest in the natural gas project, Four Corners Gas expects to seek a permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission within the next 3-4 months. Based on estimated costs and expected flow volume, the company expects a tariff of 65-75 cents/Mcf.
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