Portland natural gas transmission system begins continent to coast pipeline expansion project

US-based portland natural gas transmission system (PNGTS) has announced a 45-day binding open season for its continent to coast (C2C) expansion project, to increase capacity on its pipeline.

The pipeline expansion will allow the company to add additional natural gas supply to markets in New England and Atlantic Canada.

C2C will supply natural gas from North American natural gas basins through the TransCanada Pipeline, the expansion of which is necessary to move the C2C Project forward.

The expansion will allow the PNGTS to increase the current capacity from 168,000 dekatherms per day to a total range of 300,000-350,000 dekatherms per day.

The C2C is expected to begin service in November 2016.

Atlantic Canada markets will interconnect gas from PNGTS to Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline at Westbrook, Maine.

Shippers can also move natural gas to south of New England by PNGTS to interconnect with other New England natural gas pipelines at Dracut, Haverhill and Methuen, Mass.

PNGTS president Keith Nelson said C2C will help shippers to provide cost-effective and speedy access to prolific natural gas basins along North America.

The decline in Sable Island production and LNG deliveries, as well as the uncertainty of the Deep Panuke supply, has contributed to the expansion of C2C.

PNGTS will connect TransQuebec and Maritimes Pipeline at the Canadian border, Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline at Westbrook, Maine and Methuen, Massachusetts, while Tennessee Gas Pipeline at Dracut and Haverhill, Massachusetts, US.

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Image: Atlantic Canada markets will interconnect gas from PNGTS to Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline at Westbrook, Maine. Photo: Courtesy of PROTESA.