Columbia Pipeline Group’s Board Approves Mountaineer, Gulf XPress Projects
With its board’s approval, Columbia Pipeline Group Inc. plans to invest $2.7 billion in new infrastructure to support the continued development of gas supplies in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions.
On June 24, the NiSource subsidiary, announced that the Mountaineer XPress and Gulf XPress projects will provide 2.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/D) of firm transportation from Marcellus and Utica production areas to markets served by the Columbia Gas Transmission and Columbia Gulf Transmission systems. These projects are supported by long-term, firm transportation contracts with a variety of Marcellus and Utica producers and shippers.
Columbia Pipeline Group anticipates in-service dates during the fourth quarter of 2018.
“Today’s announcement underscores CPG’s commitment to expanding its natural gas pipeline system in the Marcellus and Utica shale areas,” said Glen Kettering, president, Columbia Pipeline Group. “These projects will enhance CPG’s already substantial footprint to meet the needs of the market in this important region – transporting growing supplies of clean-burning natural gas to high-value markets.”
As production volumes continue to grow in the Marcellus and emerging Utica shale plays, Columbia Pipeline Group has been working closely with natural gas producers to provide new transportation options to move gas out of the capacity-constrained supply basin and into the interstate market.
Mountaineer XPress, which will include an approximately 165 mile new pipeline, as well as the expansion of Columbia Transmission’s existing WB Line, will create approximately 2.7Bcf/D of firm transportation capacity from existing and new points of receipt along or near Columbia Transmission’s system.
Mountaineer XPress ‘s footprint will be in very close proximity and accessible to most of the Appalachian region’s third party processing plants, with deliveries to Columbia Transmission’s TCO Pool and Leach, Kentucky to provide for higher regional netback value, liquidity and access to Gulf area markets.
The second project announced, Gulf XPress, will include the installation of compression to existing and new stations along Columbia Gulf’s system, as well as provide limited pipeline looping, system modifications and related facilities. Gulf XPress will provide approximately 860,000 Dth/D of firm transportation capacity from Leach, Kentucky to the Columbia Gulf Mainline Pool and other delivery points as far south as Rayne, Louisiana.
“Columbia has been a part of many of these communities for decades, and in some states like West Virginia for over a century,” said Kettering. “MXP and GXP will enhance the energy infrastructure that serves these regions while creating hundreds of construction jobs and bring new revenue for local communities.”
In addition to generating substantial local economic benefits, Columbia Pipeline Group’s projects are designed, constructed and operated with a core focus on safety and respect for landowners and local natural resources. Columbia Pipeline Group’s efforts to meet and exceed safety and environmental standards have earned the company awards and recognition from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Southern Gas Association.
Columbia Pipeline Group has already begun extensive outreach to landowners and communities in areas where the projects will be constructed. Prior to construction, the projects will undergo comprehensive and transparent environmental reviews overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Throughout the review period, Columbia Pipeline Group’s project teams will continue to work closely with landowners, local officials and communities to provide up-to-date information and ensure community involvement in the process.
Tags: Columbia Pipeline Group, Gulf XPress, Marcellus, Mountaineer XPress, NiSource, Utica
