Parts of Two TransCanada U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines Receive FERC Approval to Operate

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Last week marked a couple of important milestones for TransCanada Corporation's (NYSE:TRP) (Calgary, Alberta) U.S. natural gas pipeline projects. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave permission for TransCanada to begin operations on the Western Build section of its WB Xpress natural gas pipeline, then the following day approved part of the company's Mountaineer Xpress natural gas pipeline. Both pipelines will carry natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica shales to other parts of the U.S.

Construction on the $900 million WB Xpress project began earlier this year and will increase gas capacity in Virginia and West Virginia. The pipeline will transport 1.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) when completed. The Western Build section, which FERC gave permission to operate, will move 760 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to a delivery point on Kinder Morgan Incorporated's (NYSE:KMI) (Houston, Texas) Tennessee Gas Pipeline network for transportation to the Gulf Coast.

The entire WB Xpress project entails construction of a section of greenfield pipeline, the replacement of 26 miles of existing pipeline, the construction of two grassroot compressor stations, and modifications and additions to several other compressor stations. TransCanada hopes to have the entire pipeline in operation before the end of the year. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on the grassroot pipeline in Virginia and West Virginia, the pipeline replacement in West Virginia, and the grassroot compressor stations in Chantilly, Virginia, and Charleston, West Virginia.

The $3 billion Mountaineer Xpress project will move up to 2.7 Bcf/d of natural gas in West Virginia. The project entails construction of 170 miles of grassroot pipeline, three new compressor stations and modifications to existing compressor stations. FERC gave permission for the Elk River compressor station in Kanawha County to begin operation. The entire pipeline is set for completion by the end of the year. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on Spread 1, Spread 2, spreads 3 and 4, spreads 5 and 6, and spreads 7 and 8 of the pipeline and the Elk River compressor station.

Among TransCanada's other U.S. natural gas pipeline projects planned to go into service before the end of the year is the Gulf Xpress project, which includes new compressor stations in Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. The project will add 860 million cubic feet per day of pipeline capacity to TransCanada's network. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on grassroot natural gas compressor stations in:

Morehead, Kentucky
• Lancaster, Kentucky
• Edmonton, Kentucky
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Waynesboro, Tennessee
• Grenada, Mississippi
• New Albany, Mississippi

The project has an overall investment value of $375.5 million.

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