Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Co. (M&NP) is on schedule to complete a 204-mile trunk line across Maine to move 360 MMcfd of Nova Scotian gas to Northeast U.S. markets. The pipeline is an extension of the Sable Offshore Energy Project, which has an estimated 3 tcf of proven and probable resources in six fields off Nova Scotia's Sable Island (see related story, p. 33).
M&NP owners are: Duke Energy Corp. and Westcoast Energy Inc., 37.5% each; and Mobil Corp. and Nova Scotia Power Inc., 12.5% each. Duke is project overseer.
Tom O'Connor, president of M&N Management Co., said the line was 40% complete in early August, and directional drilling had been completed at all four major river crossings (OGJ, Aug. 9, 1999, p. 17). Construction began in early May, and completion is expected by Nov. 1.
General contractors are Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Co. with a 64-mile spread, H.C. Price Co. with 67 miles, and Latex Construction Co. with 73 miles.
The M&NP Maine pipeline segment is 24 in., except for a 30-in. segment at the northernmost end that connects with the 30-in. trunk line through New Brunswick. The trunk line will link with 83 miles of main line already in service between Haverhill, Mass., and Westbrook, Me.
Two 8,300-hp compressor stations are being built: one at Baileyville, Me., near the Canadian border, and one at Richmond, Me.
The construction project is employing more than 2,700 persons, and more than 250 Maine companies are participating.
Maritimes also plans to build laterals to two gas-fired electric generating plants. Goram Energy LP has plans to build a plant at Vorman, Me., and Casco Bay Energy Co. LLC is constructing a unit at Veazie, Me.
Power plant
Casco Bay Energy's Maine Independence Station at Veazie is a 520-MW, combined-cycle plant. The $221 million unit will be completed about Apr. 1, 2000, and will burn about 70 MMcfd at peak. It will be connected to the M&NP pipeline in January and to electric transmission lines in February.
The project is 50% complete. Both the gas turbines and gas turbine generators are in place on foundations. The steam turbine and steam turbine generator will be installed in September.
Casco Bay Energy, a Duke Energy subsidiary, plans to sell its electricity in the New England wholesale market.
