NGPL seeks interest in additional capacity for Chicago Market and Gulf Coast expansion projects

US-based Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) is seeking solicitations of interest in additional capacity for its Chicago Market expansion project and Gulf Coast Southbound expansion project.

Recently NGPL announced a capital contribution of $623m from its parent companies, Kinder Morgan, and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners.

NGPL president David Devine said: "As NGPL begins construction of the first phase of its Chicago Market Expansion Project and prepares to file a certificate application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Gulf Coast Southbound Expansion Project, we are pleased to present new, cost-effective expansion capacity opportunities to the market.

"We believe these projects provide benefits to our various customers, including local distribution companies, power plants, producers and marketers, and emerging markets in Mexico and LNG liquefaction."

On 17 March 2016, the FERC approved NGPL’s request for a certificate for the first phase of the Chicago project, which will increase the company’s capacity by 238,000 dekatherms per day.

The project will provide natural gas transportation service on the company’s Gulf Coast mainline system, from the Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) interconnection in Moultrie County, Illinois, to points north.

The first phase of the project is expected to come on stream during the fourth quarter of 2016. In Phase 2 additional compression facilities will be constructed at NGPL’s new compressor station.

The Gulf Coast Southbound expansion project is a response to access increasing natural gas supplies available to NGPL domestically.

The first phase has been designed to transport 460,000 Dth/d of transportation service from NGPL’s interstate pipeline interconnects in Illinois, Arkansas and Texas, to points south on the company’s pipeline system in South Texas, and is expected to come online in the fourth quarter of 2018.

A 7(c) certificate application is planned to be filed with the FERC in the third quarter of 2016.

The proposed second phase is expected to provide for up to 250,000 Dth/d of transportation service to existing and expanding markets in NGPL’s Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast service areas, and is set to come on stream during fourth quarter of 2019.