Williams’ Transco Pipeline Sets Record During East Coast Winter Storm

Tulsa-based Williams Partners L.P. delivered a record-breaking 15.58 million dekatherms (MMdt) via the nation’s largest-volume natural gas transmission system on Friday, January 5, 2018, according to a company press release issued on Monday.

Williams utilized its Transco interstate gas pipeline to provide essential services to gas distribution companies, power generators and other customers located along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast in the wake of frigid temperatures over the weekend.

The new peak-day mark surpasses the previous record set on January 1, 2018. The Transco system, which stretches from South Texas to New York City, also established a new three-day market area delivery record, averaging 14.90 MMdt from January 4-6, 2018.

The record-breaking achievement was made possible through expansions completed in 2017. Transco’s “Big 5” expansions — Gulf Trace, Hillabee Phase 1, Dalton, New York Bay and Virginia Southside II — added more than 2.8 MMdt of transportation capacity to the existing pipeline system, according to the company’s press release.

“The incremental capacity from the fully-contracted Transco expansion projects placed into service in 2017 reflects an increase of more than 25 percent in Transco’s design capacity – which helped us be in position to meet the growing demand needs of our customers,” said Alan Armstrong, chief executive officer of Williams Partners’ general partner. “Our focused strategy on natural gas infrastructure in support of consistent and sustainable growth in gas volumes continues to enhance our ability to meet the increasing demand for natural gas for heating, industrial use, clean-power generation and LNG as highlighted by these recent delivery records.”

“When you consider that natural gas reliably heats more than half of all U.S. homes, the current frigid conditions are an important reminder of the vital role transmission pipelines play in keeping millions of Americans safe and secure, especially during winter periods of peak demand,” said Armstrong.

As demand for natural gas continues to increase, construction is progressing on two additional Transco projects — Atlantic Sunrise and Garden State Phase II — which are designed to create approximately 1.9 MMdt of additional pipeline capacity in 2018.

Transco, the nation’s largest-volume and fastest-growing interstate natural gas pipeline system, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams Partners L.P. Transco delivers natural gas to customers through its 10,200-mile pipeline network whose mainline extends nearly 1,800 miles between South Texas and New York City. The system is a major provider of cost-effective natural gas services that reaches U.S. markets in 12 Southeast and Atlantic Seaboard states, as well as international markets.