June 2017, Vol. 244, No. 6

Projects

Projects

Construction Begins on TurkStream Pipeline

Construction of the TurkStream Pipeline in the Black Sea near the Russian coast has officially started, according to Gazproms. Pipelaying will be completed by Allseas’ Audacia vessel, which will also be utilized for pipe pulling through micro-tunnels. Deepwater pipeline construction activities will be performed by Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit pipe-laying vessel.

TurkStream will start on the Russian coast near the town of Anapa and run over 560 miles through the Black Sea to come ashore in the Thrace region of Turkey. TurkStream will directly connect the large gas reserves in Russia to the Turkish gas transportation network, to provide reliable energy supplies for Turkey and southeast Europe.

The offshore component of the system will be constructed by PAO Gazprom. The offshore pipeline will consist of two parallel pipelines running through the Black Sea. The pipelines will enter the water near Anapa, on the Russian coast, and come ashore on the Turkish coast some 62 miles west of Istanbul, near the village of Kiyikoy. From Kiyikoy, an underground pipeline will be developed connecting TurkStream to the existing network at Luleburgaz. The route will continue from there to its end point at the Greek border. The project is expected to be complete by late 2019.

NJDEP: PennEast Application Must be resubmitted

An application for a more than $1 billion proposed natural gas pipeline originating in Pennsylvania and ending in New Jersey is incomplete, state regulators said. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) told PennEast it has to resubmit its freshwater permit application for the proposed 120-mile pipeline, according to an AP report.

The application lacks consent from property owners along the path of the pipeline as well as technical information like a survey of endangered and threatened species, according to the DEP. PennEast did not immediately respond but has said it hopes the pipeline would be operational in 2018.

Environmental groups opposed to the pipeline cheered the development as setback. They say the pipeline could threaten pristine waterways, vulnerable animals and habitats as well as scar the land.

The project also is awaiting a determination from federal regulators on whether there’s a need for the pipeline.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s final environmental impact study outlined several areas of concern, including trace amounts of arsenic in some rocks the pipeline would cross and potential threats to endangered and threatened species, including the bog turtle and Indiana bat. But the report issued earlier this month said PennEast is proposing mitigation efforts such as well monitoring and avoiding endangered animal habitats.

The pipeline would originate in Dallas, PA, and end at near Pennington, NJ.

Application Filed for Alaska LNG Project

The Alaska Gasline Development Corp. (AGDC) has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to obtain a Natural Gas Act Section 3 permit for the Alaska LNG Project.

The project is an integrated gas infrastructure development consisting of three major components: a gas treatment plant located at Prudhoe Bay, an 800-mile pipeline to southcentral Alaska with up to five offtakes for in-state use, and a natural gas liquefaction plant in Nikiski to produce LNG for export.

The project will free 35 Tcf of proven natural gas resources stranded on the North Slope. Once operational, the liquefaction plant will be authorized to process 20 MMtpa of LNG for export. AGDC also filed major permit applications with four additional federal agencies, including the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, and National Marine Fisheries Service.

Enterprise to Build Shin Oak NGL Pipeline

Enterprise Products Partners LP announced construction of a 571-mile pipeline to deliver increasing volumes of natural gas liquids (NGLs) from the Permian Basin to Enterprise’s NGL fractionation and storage complex in Mont Belvieu, TX. The Shin Oak NGL Pipeline will originate at Enterprise’s Hobbs NGL fractionation and storage facility in Gaines County, TX. The 24-inch pipeline will have an initial design capacity of 250 Mbpd, expandable to 600 Mbpd. This project is supported by long-term customer commitments and is expected to be operational in mid-2019.

Besides mixed NGL supplies aggregated at the Hobbs facility, the Shin Oak Pipeline will provide takeaway capacity for mixed NGLs extracted at natural gas processing plants in the Permian region, including two Enterprise facilities that began service in 2016 and the Orla I plant that is scheduled to begin operations in 2018. In tandem with Enterprise’s existing NGL pipelines, this pipeline will also expand the company’s capacity to transport purity NGL products from Hobbs to Mont Belvieu.

Kinder Morgan, DCP Team Up for Gulf Coast Express Pipeline

Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI), and DCP Midstream LP have signed a letter of intent for DCP to participate in developing the proposed Gulf Coast Express Pipeline Project which will provide an outlet for increased natural gas production from the Permian Basin to growing markets along the Texas Gulf Coast. The project is designed to transport up to 1.7 MMDth/d of natural gas through 430 miles of 42-inch pipeline from the Waha, TX area to Agua Dulce, TX. The pipeline is expected to be in-service in mid-2019, subject to shipper commitments.

A non-binding open season for firm natural gas transportation is in process. It is anticipated that DCP will be a partner and shipper on the proposed pipeline that KMI will build and operate.

Permian Basin to Cushing Pipeline Launches Open Season

A subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline LP is conducting an open season for committed crude oil pipeline capacity on the Permian Basin to Cushing Pipeline, with origin points in Midland, TX and Colorado City, TX. Depending on the results of the open season, committed volumes will be transported on a combination of new and existing pipelines.The pipeline will deliver to Plains’ terminal in Cushing, OK. Subject to sufficient commitments from shippers and receipt of permits and regulatory approvals, the pipeline could be operational in mid-2019.

Enable Midstream to Build Anadarko Basin Pipeline

Enable Midstream Partners has entered into an agreement to build Project Wildcat, a gathering and processing pipeline that will transport rich natural gas from the Anadarko Basin to north Texas. Under the terms of the agreement, the company has contracted with an affiliate of Energy Transfer Partners LP for 400 MMcf/d of firm processing capacity at the Godley Plant in Johnson County, TX. Once completed, Project Wildcat will provide access to Texas intrastate natural gas markets, including the Tolar Hub. The project is expected to be in-service by mid-2018.

Water Permits Denied for Northern Access Pipeline

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has denied the Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification and other state stream and wetland permits for National Fuel Gas Co.’s 96-mile, 24-inch Northern Access Project that would run from McKean County, PA to Erie County, NY

“After an in-depth review of the proposed Northern Access Pipeline Project and following three public hearings and the consideration of over 5,700 comments, DEC has denied the permit due to the project’s failure to avoid adverse impacts to wetlands, streams, and fish and other wildlife habitat,” Sean Mahar, a spokesman for the DEC, said. “We are confident that this decision supports our state’s strict water quality standards that all New Yorkers depend on.”

Ronald J. Tanski, president and chief executive officer of National Fuel Gas Co., said construction of the project would not have significantly harmed New York’s water bodies. He also said the timing of the DEC’s decision is very concerning, not just for this project, but future pipeline construction projects.

“New York’s continued denial of permits for energy infrastructure projects is simply not sustainable, as it will have the effect of reducing New York’s energy reliability, lead to higher costs for consumers and be a limiting factor in the ability for industry to locate or expand in the state,” he said. “Today, 57% of the electric generation capacity in the state is powered by natural gas, and, as more coal and nuclear power plants are scheduled to be shut down, new gas-fired plants are being built in their place. Additional natural gas infrastructure is essential to connect nearby, growing supply areas to New York consumers.”

Jemena Gets Nod for Phillip Creek Station Compressor

Jemena has received a pipeline license and consent to construct the Phillip Creek Station Compressor Facility as part of the Northern Gas Pipeline Project (NGP) in Australia. According to the Northern Territory’s Minister for Primary Industry and Resources Ken Vowles, a thorough assessment of the Pipeline Management Plan, including the Environmental Management Plan, was undertaken and encompassed an independent review.

“It is a priority of government that the pipeline be constructed in such a way that it delivers safe and secure infrastructure that meets the requirements of the Northern Territory,” Vowles said. He added that the independent NT Environmental Protection Authority made eight recommendations as part of its EIS assessment, which have been addressed as part of the Pipeline Management Plan and associated Environmental Management Plan.

The 386-mile pipeline will link Tennant Creek in the Territory to Mount Isa in Queensland, unlocking the next phase of economic growth for the Territory and help build a stronger Northern Australia. Jemena is in the planning phase of the NGP, with construction of the $800 million project scheduled to commence in 2017 and first gas to flow in 2018.

National Fuel Kicks Off Construction Projects

FERC has approved National Fuel Gas Supply Corp.’s request to proceed with construction of Line T2KNY, Line KNY abandonment, and associated modifications at East Eden and North Boston Meter and Regulator Stations in Erie County, NY for the Line T2KNY Install, Line TNY Replacement, and Line KNY Abandonment Project.

The Line T2KNY Install, Line TNY Replacement, and Line KNY Abandonment Project consists of installing 1.2 miles of 20-inch natural gas pipeline (Line T2KNY), replacing 6.7 miles of 20-inch bare steel pipeline with 7 miles of 24-inch coated natural gas pipeline (Line TNY), the abandonment of 14.9 miles of 20-inch bare steel natural gas pipeline (Line KNY), modifications at the North Boston and East Eden meter and regulator stations and the Zoar Compressor Station in Erie County, NY. Once completed, the project will provide an additional 2.6 MDth/d of new firm capacity.

Golden Pass Gets Approval to Export LNG from Terminal

The U.S. Department of Energy has authorized Golden Pass Products LLC to export LNG to countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the U.S. Golden Pass is authorized to export LNG up to the equivalent of 2.21 Bcf/d to any non-FTA country not prohibited by U.S. law or policy from the Golden Pass Terminal in Jefferson County, TX.

The Department of Energy has authorized a total of 19.2 Bcf/d of natural gas exports to non-FTA countries from planned facilities in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland. These projects, if built, would position the U.S. to be the dominant LNG exporter in the world.

Energy Transfer Partners Finishes Texas Pipeline Projects

Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) announced that the Trans-Pecos Pipeline, the Comanche Trail Pipeline and the Trans-Pecos Pipeline WAHA Header are operational. Both pipelines and the WAHA Header are owned by affiliates of ETP, Carso Energy Corp. and MasTec Inc. as part of long-term agreements with the Comisión Federal de Electricidad, Mexico’s federal electricity commission, to transport natural gas from the Waha Hub in Pecos County, TX to the Texas-Mexico border.

The Comanche Trail Pipeline and the WAHA Header went into service on Jan. 30, 2017. The 42-inch intrastate pipeline traverses 195 miles through Pecos, Reeves, Culberson, Hudspeth, and El Paso counties to the Texas-Mexico border in San Elizario, just south of El Paso. The Comanche Trail Pipeline is designed to transport 1.1 Bcf/d of natural gas and consists of seven delivery taps along its route for local economic development opportunities. The WAHA Header, located near the Waha Hub, is designed to accommodate 6 Bcf/d of natural gas and connects to more than 10 different natural gas pipelines.

The Trans-Pecos Pipeline went into service on March 31, 2017. The 148-mile, 42-inch intrastate pipeline traverses Pecos, Brewster and Presidio counties and ends at the Texas border near Presidio. The Trans-Pecos Pipeline is designed to transport 1.4 Bcf/d of natural gas and includes six local delivery taps.

In addition, the Trans-Pecos Pipeline entered into a cooperative effort to help West Texas Gas and the City of Presidio offset construction costs of a new pipeline that will connect to the Trans-Pecos Pipeline and deliver natural gas to the newly established Presidio Industrial Park. The new lateral pipeline is expected to be operational shortly.