Williams reports up to 800-MMcfd shipper interest in Leidy expansion

Williams Partners LP has received interest from shippers to expand its existing Transco pipeline Leidy Line in northern Pennsylvania by up to 800 MMcfd by late 2015. The Leidy Line’s current subscribed capacity is 1.7 bcfd.

The Leidy Southeast expansion project will supply local gas distribution companies and electric power generators along the Atlantic seaboard and throughout the southeastern US. Williams is finalizing shipper agreements and expects to initiate pre-filing with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the project in early 2013. The results of shipper negotiations will determine Leidy Southeast’s final scope and cost.

The Leidy Southeast expansion, to be achieved by a combination of additional compression and looping of Transco’s already in-place Leidy Line assets, will provide firm transportation from various supply points along Leidy to delivery points terminating at its Zone 4 Market Pool in Alabama, along Transco’s mainline system.

The Leidy Southeast expansion represents a portion of Williams’ previously announced Atlantic Access project, which proposed firm transportation options from various Marcellus shale supply regions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia (OGJ Online, Apr. 17, 2012). A non-binding open season for the Atlantic Access project resulted in strong interest in expanding the Leidy Line, said Williams, which continues to discuss other portions of the project with potential shippers for a later in-service date.

Contact Christopher Smith at [email protected]