New Jersey-New York (NJ-NY) Expansion Project, United States of America

New Jersey - New York (NJ-NY) expansion project is a proposed extension of the existing Texas Eastern Transmission and Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline systems.

The expansion will complement the natural gas supplies to the New Jersey and New York regions. It is expected to cost $1.2bn and is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The project will provide the vital pipeline infrastructure required for the transportation of natural gas from various upstream receipt points, in order to meet the high demands of the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas.

The expansion will have the capacity to transfer 800 million cubic feet of natural gas each day. The pipeline is fully subscribed by Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Consolidated Edison and Statoil Natural Gas.

Developing the New Jersey - New York expansion project

Spectra Energy filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the NJ-NY expansion project in December 2010.

The company received the certificate from the FERC for the project in May 2012. The project also received approval from the FERC to proceed with construction in June of the same year.

Route of Spectra Energy's NJ-NY pipeline

The new pipeline will extend through the regions of Bayonne, Jersey City and offshore Hoboken in New Jersey, as well as parts of Staten Island and Manhattan in New York.

About 63.5% of the planned route is located along the Texas Eastern's existing pipeline and / or existing roadway, railway or other utility passages.

The route will avoid residential properties to minimise the effects on landowners, local communities and the environment.

Pipeline infrastructure in Staten Island and Manhattan

The project will lie about 16 miles of new 30-inch-diameter pipeline from Texas Eastern's existing metering and regulating (MR) station in the Borough of Staten Island to the Borough of Manhattan, both in New York. About 108 acres of land will be allocated for the operation of the facilities.

The expansion will involve the replacement of about 4.5 miles of existing 12-inch-diameter and 20-inch-diameter pipelines with a single 42-inch-diameter pipeline. These segments are located between existing Linden Compressor Station in New Jersey and a current MR station in the Borough of Staten Island.

The 2.2 mile-long 12-inch-diameter pipeline segments at Linden and the Borough of Staten Island will be abandoned as part of the expansion.

The project will also call for the installation of six new MR stations and upgradation of three existing compressor stations and two existing MR stations. The new MR stations will be placed at Hanover, Bayonne, Jersey City, Mahwah and Ramapo.

The Hanover compressor station will be installed with reverse suction and discharge lines. The piping at Cromwell and Hanover compressor stations will be modified to accommodate bi-directional flows. Other infrastructure added will include pig launcher and receiver facilities at the required compressor and MR stations.

New Jersey - New York pipeline construction

The pipeline will be constructed using high strength carbon steel, produced in compliance with the US Department of Transportation pipeline standards. The entire pipeline is covered with a corrosion-resistant coating to waterproof the pipe.

The pipeline will be laid according to the highest industry and government standards. State-of-the-art technologies will be implemented to minimise the disruption to landowners during the construction. Most of the pipeline segments will be installed using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology to reduce impacts.

The multiple construction crews employed in the process will install the pipeline and restore the area to its earlier state as efficiently as possible.

Construction of the entire project, including the set up of new MR stations, modification of existing compressors and MR stations, as well as HDD crossings, is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2012.