Source: Akron Beacon Journal
Natural gas pulled from Ohio’s Utica shale could be moved to the Gulf Coast with the expansion of an existing pipeline.
Kentucky-based Texas Gas Transmission LLC has proposed adding north-to-south capacity to its existing 690-mile pipeline system. It would retain south-to-north flows.
The Ohio-Louisiana Access Project would run from Lebanon in southwest Ohio to Perrysville, La. Connections would be built to ship natural gas from eastern Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.
The project must win approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Construction would begin next August, and the project is scheduled to begin service in June 2016, says the company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Texas-based Boardwalk Pipeline Partners.
Gulfport Energy Corp., one of the key drillers in the eastern Ohio, has signed to ship a portion of its natural gas to Louisiana via the Texas Gas pipeline.
The other shippers are Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, R.E. Gas Development LLC, Jay-Bee Production Co., Louisville Gas and Electric Co., DTE Energy Trading Inc. and the Public Energy Authority of Kentucky.
Much of the natural gas would be used to power gas-fired plants to produce electricity in the South. Some could go to the Gulf Coast for liquefied natural gas export to other countries.
The company’s discussions with potential customers began in late 2013.
Texas Gas’ pipeline system extends about 6,100 miles and has a daily capacity of 4.6 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas.