Williams Partners seeks FERC OK for more natural gas service to Northeast

TULSA, Okla. - Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) announced on Dec. 14 that its Transco pipeline has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to provide 250,000 dekatherms per day of incremental, year-round firm natural gas transportation capacity to serve growing markets in the Northeast by November 2013.

The Northeast Supply Link project is designed to expand certain segments of the existing Transco pipeline in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to transport robust domestic supplies of natural gas to growing markets in the Northeast.

"Because of its existing location, the Transco pipeline is well positioned to connect vast domestic natural gas supplies with growing markets in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania," said Randy Barnard, president of Williams' natural gas pipeline business. "This increased access will not only enhance reliability of natural gas service, but should contribute to a more stable gas and electric pricing environment in markets served by the project."

The proposed expansion will primarily consist of approximately 12 miles of new pipe at various locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, in addition to a new 25,000-horsepower compressor facility in Essex County, N.J., along with other facility modifications. The capital cost of the project is estimated to be $341 million.

Most of the new pipe will be installed either entirely within or parallel to existing pipeline and utility rights-of-way. The new Essex County compressor facility will be constructed on land already owned by Williams. All other compression-related activities will be performed entirely within existing compressor station facilities.

If approved, compressor station construction would begin in November 2012 with pipeline construction following in the spring of 2013.