Christopher E. Smith
OGJ Pipeline Editor
HOUSTON, Apr. 7 -- El Paso Corp. announced Apr. 5 it had received US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval for its Ruby Pipeline project. Ruby is a 675-mile, 42-in. OD interstate natural gas pipeline that will ship Rockies supplies to consuming markets in California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest.
Ruby will use four compressor stations totaling 160,500 to transport natural gas from an existing supply hub at Opal, Wyo., to interconnections near Malin, Ore., at an initial design capacity of up to 1.5 bcfd. Pending receipt of rights-of-way from the US Bureau of Land Management, construction of the $3 billion project is scheduled to begin in late spring 2010 to meet a March 2011 in-service date.
El Paso also said it has entered into agreements with Global Infrastructure Partners, whereby GIP will invest up to $700 million in the Ruby project and upon satisfaction of various closing conditions acquire a 50% equity interest in the project.
FERC issued its final environmental impact statement on Ruby Jan. 8, 2010, saying any potential impacts could be mitigated with use of appropriate measures (OGJ Online, Jan. 11, 2010).
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
