EIA: New pipeline capacity into New England increases deliverability of natural gas to constrained market

According to EIA’s "Natural Gas Pipeline Project Tracker," three natural gas pipeline projects have been completed, partially completed, or have requested to enter service in 2020 that increase natural gas deliverability into New England. During days of peak demand in the winter, most of New England’s capacity is fully utilized, which can lead to spikes in spot natural gas prices and, in turn, wholesale electricity prices. These projects, which add 136 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of capacity, will allow additional natural gas supplies to serve this constrained market.

Portland Xpress Phase 3, the final phase of an expansion project for the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS), was completed in October 2020, increasing deliverability on the PNGTS system by approximately 24 MMcf/d. New construction was added during Phase 3 as a result of three updates at existing facilities:

• Improvements to compressors in Westbrook, Maine
• Additional horsepower added to compressor in Eliot, Maine
• Upgrades to meters at meter stations in Dracut, Massachusetts

 

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company’s (TGP) 261 Upgrade Project, consisting of two sub-projects totaling 72 MMcf/d, placed into service the Looping Project portion of the expansion. More than two miles of new 12-inch pipe was laid to replace sections of smaller, inactive pipes and to run new pipeline adjacent to existing pipeline. The Horsepower Replacement Project is planned to come online in November 2021, which will replace two turbine compressors with one newer, cleaner, and more efficient burning turbine compressor.

Enbridge’s Atlantic Bridge Project Phase 2, set to be completed in the last quarter of 2020, includes the construction and operation of a new compressor station in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The project is designed to increase capacity on the Algonquin Gas Transmission and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline systems. The first phase came into service in November 2017, providing 40 MMcf/d of additional capacity on the Algonquin system. When the Weymouth compressor station underwent testing in September 2020 as part of Phase 2, mechanical failures required Enbridge to stop commissioning activities and repairs to the compressor station. Before the end of the month, a second incident occured at the station, triggering additional investigations and repairs. Enbridge expects operations at the facility to resume in December.

• Most Read
• Most Commented