Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline Receives FERC Approval

---

Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Georgia Strait Pipeline LP (Salt Lake City, Utah) has received a draft order from the FERC indicating that it will authorize the construction and operation of the U.S. portion of the Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline Project (GSX). Georgia Strait Crossing LP had originally filed with the FERC in April of 2001 for the mainland and marine portion of the international project. The marine portion in itself will reach depths of up to 1,104 feet when the pipeline crosses the Georgia Strait.

Working in partnership with BC Hydro (Vancouver, Canada), the proposed $200 million pipeline would begin at the Sumas compressor station in Washington owned by Williams Gas Pipelines West (Salt Lake City). From the Sumas station, 32 miles of 20" diameter pipeline would be constructed to Cherry Point, Washington where a new compressor station will be constructed. The new compressor station will encompass a 10,302 horsepower two-stage turbine based compressor unit and pig launching & receiving facilities. From Cherry Point to the UC/Canadian international border, 1.1 miles of onshore and 13.9 miles of offshore 16" diameter pipeline will be constructed. From the international border, 23 miles of offshore and 8 miles of onshore 16" diameter pipeline will be constructed and will terminate near Duncan on Vancouver Island, BC Canada.

BC Hydro is currently in the permitting process with the NEB (National Energy Board) and expects to receive permits for its $57 million Canadian portion of the pipeline in the first quarter of 2003. Georgia Strait Crossing is scheduling the directional drilling to begin in the fall of 2003 and the main construction to begin in the spring of 2004. When completed in late 2004, the pipeline will total 85 miles in length when taking into consideration the secondary piping and final destinations. The total transmission capacity will be 95 mmscfd of natural gas and will be destined for two new gas-fired power plants on Vancouver Island. Georgia Strait Crossing will construct an expansion slot for an additional turbine compressor set at the Sumas station for further capacity expansion of the pipeline at a later date.

Georgia Strait Crossing LP is a limited partnership formed by Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) (Tulsa, Oklahoma). The Williams Companies own and operate over 27,000 miles of pipeline spanning the continental U.S. and are one of the nation's largest volume transporters of natural gas. BC Hydro is the third largest electricity utility in Canada supplying power to over 1.5 million customers in British Columbia.

Industrialinfo.com has been tracking the progress of the Georgia Strait Crossing Project since early 2000. Industrialinfo.com has developed a comprehensive U.S. Natural Gas Pipeline & Compressor Station Database detailing over 1,300 compressor stations, including the make & model of the prime driver & horsepower of each unit, date of installation, type of compressor, and station contact details for each station.