FERC approves Williams’ Gulf Trace expansion project in US

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the US has approved an application submitted by Williams Partners for Gulf Trace, a 1.2 dekatherm/d expansion project of the Transco pipeline system.

Gulf Trace, which is part of $5.1bn in transmission growth projects of Williams Partners, has been designed to make Transco’s production area mainline and southwest Louisiana lateral systems bi-directional, going from Station 65 in St. Helena Parish to Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Located in Cameron Parish, US, the pipeline will serve the Cheniere Energy Partners-owned Sabine Pass Liquefaction project.

The LNG export terminal will connect US natural gas supplies with LNG markets worldwide.

Williams Partners’ wholly-owned subsidiary Transco has executed an agreement with Sabine Pass Liquefaction for the complete capacity of the Gulf Trace project.

First LNG from the Sabine Pass export terminal, which is currently under construction, is expected in late 2015.

The terminal will have six LNG trains and expected nominal production capacity of 27mt a year.

In addition to the pipeline reversal, a new, seven-mile 36-inch lateral pipeline and a new greenfield compressor station are planned to provide transportation service to the Sabine Pass facility.

The facility is expected to be operational in first quarter 2017 and is subject to receipt of all necessary remaining approvals by regulatory bodies.

Williams Partners is executing on 15 projects in 10 eastern states, which are expected to increase Transco’s system capacity by over 57%.