TransCanada Corp. placed its Leach XPress (LXP) natural gas pipeline into service on Jan. 1, the week following Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issuance of certificates of public convenience and necessity for the company’s Mountaineer XPress (MXP) and Gulf XPress (GXP) projects. All three projects are designed to deliver Appalachian natural gas to US markets.
LXP comprises 160 miles of 36-in. OD pipeline, three compressor stations, and modifications to an existing compressor station. It can transport about 1.5 bcfd.
Via an existing interconnect with TransCanada's Columbia Gulf Transmission System and its Rayne XPress (RXP) project—placed into service November 2017—LXP will allow delivery of as much as an additional 1 bcfd of gas to Southeast and Gulf Coast markets.
TransCanada plans to begin right-of-way preparation and construction on MXP and GXP in time to meet an in-service date of late 2018, pending remaining regulatory approvals.
MXP will deliver roughly 2.6 bcfd of gas to the TCO Pool and Leach markets on the Columbia Gas Transmission System through a 170-mile, 36-in. OD pipeline using three new compressor stations and upgrades to three existing compressor stations. GXP will transport about 800 MMcfd to Southeast and Gulf Coast markets through construction of seven new compressor stations and upgrades to one existing compressor station along TransCanada's existing Columbia Gulf System.
Rayne Xpress cost $1.6 billion. MXP and GXP are expected to cost a combined $3.2 billion.
