Transco pipeline delivers record volumes of natural gas

Williams Partners LP has announced that it delivered a record amount of natural gas on its Transco interstate gas pipeline to meet demand driven by recent cold weather in markets on the US Eastern Seaboard. Two recently completed expansions of Transco increased natural gas transportation capacity by 475 000 dth/d, enabling the record in December 2013.

Record breaking figures

The nation's largest volume natural gas transmission system, Transco delivered a record breaking 10.83 million dth in its Zones 4-6 market area stretching from Mississippi to New York City on 12^th December 2013.

The new peak-day mark surpasses the previous high of 10.5 million dth set 17^th February, 2013 for deliveries to those same markets. Transco also set a three day market area delivers record 10^th-12^th December, averaging 10.47 million dth/day. The 12^th December record volume represents enough gas to hear nearly 50 million US homes.

"This recent record was primarily driven by increased natural gas demand for home heating by local distribution companies, along with power generation," said Frank Ferazzi, Vice President & General Manager of Williams' Transco pipeline. "As intended, the timely completions this year of two recent Transco expansion projects are helping meet growing demand in some of the fastest growing markets in the country."

Transo natural gas pipeline

On 1^st November, Williams Partners placed into full-service its Northeast Supply Link, after bringing half the capacity into service three months ahead of schedule in response to customer demands. The project marks the first major expansion of the Transco natural gas pipeline designed specifically to connect Marcellus natural gas supply with Northeastern markets. The expansion provides 250 000 dth/d of incremental firm natural gas transportation capacity from Marcellus supplies direct to nearby customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

Mid-South expansion

In June, the partnership placed into service the final phase of the Mid-South Expansion, which when combined with the first phase, provide an additional 225 000 dth/d of incremental firm natural gas transportation capacity to growing markets in the Southeast United States. The project provides service to power generators in North Carolina and Alabama as well as a local distribution company in Georgia.

Transco growth projects

Since 2003, the company has placed into service 21 Transco growth projects, which have increased the system capacity by about 55%. To meet future demand for firm natural gas transportation capacity, Williams Partners has previously announced approximately US$ 2.2 billion of Transco growth projects that are expected to be placed into service between 2013 and 2017. The expansions, which consist of 11 projects in nine eastern states, are designed to serve customers’ demand for power generation, industries and local distribution. Additionally, Transco received a positive customer response to its recent open season related to the proposed Atlantic Sunrise Project which would be in addition to the already contracted and sanctioned expansion projects.

The Transco pipeline is a 10 200 mile pipeline system that transports natural gas to markets throughout the northeastern and southeastern United States. Current system capacity is approximately 10.15 million dth/d which is enough natural gas to serve the equivalent of more than 42 million homes.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/16012014/transco_pipeline_delivers_record_volumes_of_natural_gas/