Williams places Atlantic Sunrise pipeline into full service

Williams has received approval from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place the $3bn Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline project into full service.

With the receipt of the approval, the pipeline project is set to be placed into full service on 6 October.

Developed by Williams’ subsidiary Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, the 1.7 billion cubic feet per day project will connect shale basins in Pennsylvania to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern states.

It will expand the design capacity of the Transco natural gas pipeline system to 15.8 billion cubic feet per day and extend the bidirectional flow of the system, offering direct connectivity for Marcellus gas supplies to markets up to Alabama.

Williams president and CEO Alan Armstrong said: “This project makes the largest-volume pipeline system in the country even larger, further executing on our strategy to connect premier natural gas supply areas with the best markets in the country.

“The project is significant for Pennsylvania and natural gas-consuming markets all along the East Coast, alleviating infrastructure bottlenecks and providing millions of consumers direct access to one of the most abundant, cost-effective natural gas supply sources in the country.”

The project comprises 186 miles of greenfield pipe, 12 miles of pipe looping, two new compressor stations and compressor station modifications in five states.

The greenfield portion of the Atlantic Sunrise project is jointly owned by Transco and Meade Pipeline.

Transco has a pipeline network of more than 10,000 miles, including a mainline extending 1,800 miles from South Texas to New York City.

The Transco pipeline carries natural gas from production areas to utility companies and power plants across the eastern US.