Williams Partners’ Transco Pipeline Delivers Record Volumes Early in Heating Season
Williams Partners LP says 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 U.S. Eastern Seaboard. Two recently completed expansions of Transco increased natural gas transportation capacity by 475 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day, enabling the record in December.
The nation’s largest-volume natural gas transmission system, Transco delivered a record-breaking 10.83 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in its Zones 4-6 market area stretching from Mississippi to New York City on Dec. 12. The new peak-day mark surpasses the previous high of 10.5 Bcf set Feb. 17 for deliveries to those same markets. Transco also set a three-day market area delivery record Dec. 10-12, averaging 10.47 Bcf per day. The Dec. 12 record volume represents enough gas to heat nearly 50 million U.S. 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 and 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.”
Since 2003, the company has placed into service 21 Transco growth projects, which have increased the system capacity by about 55 percent. To meet future demand for firm natural gas transportation capacity, Williams Partners has previously announced approximately $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.
