Tulsa’s Williams reported it has received federal approval of its Atlantic Sunrise pipeline that will allow an increase of natural gas pumped to the east coast.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission signed off on putting the more than 200-mile project into full service this week. The official start date will be Oct. 6 and the line will increase the capacity of the Transco pipeline, the largest-volume natural gas pipeline system in the country. It will increase volume by 1.7 billion cubic feet a day or about 12 percent and push the limit to 15.8 billion cubic feet a day.
Williams says the Atlantic Sunrise project will strengthen and extend the bi-directional flow of the Transco system, directly connecting Marcellus gas supplies with markets as far south as Alabama.
“This project makes the largest-volume pipeline system in the country even larger, further executing on our strategy to connect premier natural gas supply areas with the best markets in the country,” said Alan Armstrong, Williams president and chief executive officer. “The project is significant for Pennsylvania and natural gas-consuming markets all along the East Coast, alleviating infrastructure bottlenecks and providing millions of consumers direct access to one of the most abundant, cost-effective natural gas supply sources in the country.”
Williams Chief Operating Officer Micheal Dunn said even as the company reached final construction of the pipeline, some segments received more than 20 inches of rainfall.
Greenfield construction on the Pennsylvania portion of the project began in September 2017. The project featured the installation of 186 miles of greenfield pipe, 12 miles of pipe looping, 2.5 miles of pipe replacement, two new compressor stations and compressor station modifications in five states.
Throughout the permitting and construction process, Williams said it worked closely with permitting agencies to minimize environmental and stakeholder impacts, making modifications to more than half of the original pipeline route. In addition, Williams worked with local stakeholders to provide an additional $2.5 million for environmental conservation projects located within the project area.
The greenfield segment of the Atlantic Sunrise project, known as the Central Penn Line, is jointly owned by Transco and Meade Pipeline Co LLC (Meade). Meade is owned by WGL Midstream, Cabot Oil and Gas and EIF Vega Midstream.
Transco delivers natural gas to customers through its more than 10,000-mile pipeline network with a mainline extending 1,800 miles from South Texas to New York City.
