AVOCA GAS STORAGE PROJECT ADVANCES

J. Makowski Co., Boston, has disclosed the availability of 5 bcf of storage capacity in the Avoca gas storage project. The project, which completed feasibility studies last month, has started state and federal permitting processes and is prepared to sign service agreements for capacity. Makowski is one of five partners in the project near Avoca in Steuben County, N.Y. Others are Equitable Resources Inc. unit Equitrans Inc., Natural Gas Clearinghouse, Texaco Gas Marketing Inc., and Union Gas

Oct. 11, 1993

2 min read

J. Makowski Co., Boston, has disclosed the availability of 5 bcf of storage capacity in the Avoca gas storage project.

The project, which completed feasibility studies last month, has started state and federal permitting processes and is prepared to sign service agreements for capacity.

Makowski is one of five partners in the project near Avoca in Steuben County, N.Y. Others are Equitable Resources Inc. unit Equitrans Inc., Natural Gas Clearinghouse, Texaco Gas Marketing Inc., and Union Gas Ltd. affiliate Trillium Gas Storage Inc.

The Avoca combine has hired International Gas Consulting as project engineer, PB-KBB to design caverns and leaching facilities, Mustang Engineering to design surface facilities, Galson to perform environmental work, S.A. Holditch to design brine reinjection wells, Re/Spec to analyze and test geologic strata, and Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin as counsel on state and federal regulatory matters.

Following receipt of permits, construction likely will start in summer 1994, with the first 3 bcf of storage inventory to be available for the 1995-96 winter (OGJ, Sept. 6, p. 30). During the first phase, Avoca customers will have total withdrawal capacity of as much as 300 MMcfd during a 10 day period and reinjection capability of as much as 150 MMcfd during 20 days.

Makowski called the Avoca facility the first high deliverability market area gas storage project in the U.S. Northeast. Traversed by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. facilities, it will offer access to other interstate pipelines serving the eastern gas markets of the U.S. and Canada.

Makowski said, "Because the geological properties of salt storage permit high injection and withdrawal rates, the Avoca project will provide unparalleled flexibility and supply security to meet the evolving needs of Northeast energy markets in the post-Order 636 environment."

Avoca plans to conduct an open season for customer nominations 2 weeks after filing of its permit application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.