TRANSCONTINENTAL TO EXPAND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN PHASES

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. (TGPL), Houston, plans a series of main line expansions to serve markets in the U.S. Southeast. The proposed expansions would occur in two steps and ultimately add 200 MMcfd of capacity to TGPL's pipeline system by the 1996-97 winter heating season.

Oct. 4, 1993

3 min read

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. (TGPL), Houston, plans a series of main line expansions to serve markets in the U.S. Southeast.

The proposed expansions would occur in two steps and ultimately add 200 MMcfd of capacity to TGPL's pipeline system by the 1996-97 winter heating season.

TGPL's 1994 southeast expansion (SE94) would add about 35 MMcfd of capacity by the 1994-95 winter heating season at a cost of $28 million. Its 1995-96 southeast expansion (SE95-96) would occur in two phases. Phase one would add 115 MMcfd of capacity at a cost of $80 million and phase two 50 MMcfd for $19 million.

TGPL is holding an open season Sept. 29-Oct. 20 to accept shipper nominations for firm transportation using capacity created by the expansions.

The company in November plans to ask for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval of SE94 and in December for approval of SE95-96. With prompt action by FERC, construction of SE94 could begin in June 1994, SE95-96 phase one in May 1995, and SE95-96 phase two in May 1996.

Completion of the expansions would allow TGPL's main line capacity to grow from its interconnect with Mobile Bay gas pipeline near Butler, Ala., to points upstream of compressor station 165 near Chatham, Va. The new capacity would allow TGPL to provide firm transportation for customers in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and southern Virginia.

EXPANSION DETAILS

During the expansion TGPL intends to add almost 70,000 hp of compression at four compressor stations and lay about 25 miles of line replacement and loop, increase operating hours of compressors at two stations, and recommission or replace equipment at two others.

TGPL during SE94 is to:

Replace and upgrade 9.6 miles of 30 in. pipe on Line A from compressor station 120 to station 130 between Stockbridge and Comer, Ga.
Recommission units 1 and 2 at station 100 near Billingsley, Ala.
Increase operating hours of the Mars unit at station 130.

During phase I of SE95-96, TGPL is to:

Install one 12,600 hp compressor each at station 90 near Sweetwater, Ala., and station 150 near Mooresville, N.C., and a 12,000 hp compressor at station 120.
Lay 15.13 miles of 42 in. loop northeast of Billingsley.
Replace a 14,000 hp electric driver on units 1 and 2 at station 100.
Increase operating hours of the Mars unit at station 110.

In SE95-96 phase 2, TGPL plans to add 6,500 hp of compression at station 100 and 12,000 hp at station 120,