FERC approves Williams’ Southeastern Trail expansion project in US

US-based energy firm Williams has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Southeastern Trail expansion project.

FERC has issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity to the company authorising the project.

The project has been designed to serve the growing demand for natural gas for Williams’ Transco pipeline markets in Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern US.

It will provide 296,375 dekatherms a day (Dth/d) of gas transportation capacity to utility and local distribution companies in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia.

The expansion project will comprise 7.7 miles of 42in pipeline looping facilities in Virginia and horsepower additions at existing compressor stations in Virginia.

It will also feature piping and valve modifications on other existing facilities in South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana to carry out bi-directional flow.

Upon completion, the project will result in a net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as the facilities are equipped with advanced horsepower technology.

The project will serve PSNC Energy, South Carolina Electric & Gas, Virginia Natural Gas, the City of Buford, Georgia, as well as the City of LaGrange, Georgia.

Williams chief operating officer Micheal Dunn said: “This vital project, along with additional expansion opportunities under development, will link low-cost supply to key customers in high-growth markets and continues the expansion of southbound capacity on the Transco pipeline system.

“Construction of this project along Transco’s existing corridor results in significantly less impact on the environment and landowners and more economical transportation rates for our customers than other greenfield projects serving these same markets.”

After receiving all the necessary regulatory approvals, Williams expects construction on the project to begin this year with a target in-service date of November next year.

The Southeastern Trail project is expected to increase the pipeline’s daily system-design capacity from 17.2 million dekatherms to 17.5 million dekatherms.

In March, Williams signed an agreement with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) to form a $3.8bn joint venture (JV) in the western Marcellus and Utica basins in the US.