| | |

Spectra Energy Launches Open Season on 4 Marcellus/Utica Pipelines

MDN friend Tom Knox from Columbus Business First has done some expert sleuthing and found that Spectra Energy has recently launched open seasons for four new or expanded natural gas pipelines that crisscross the Utica and Marcellus region. All four open seasons end later this month. If Spectra gets signed contracts and if all four pipeline projects are approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the four projects together represent an additional 3.5 billion cubic feet per day of additional takeaway capacity in the Marcellus/Utica. Here’s a run down of the four projects, taken from Spectra’s website:
Continue reading

| | | |

Spectra Energy to the Rescue! New England Pipeline Expansion

Seems that Kinder Morgan and their planned expansion of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline across Massachusetts isn’t the only company to respond to the plea from New England’s governors to get more natural gas coming to the region (see Blue State Blues: 6 New England States Want New Natgas Pipeline). Spectra Energy has responded to the call to get more gas going to New England. Last week Spectra announced plans to expand the Algonquin and Maritimes pipeline systems adding an additional 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day by 2017, much of it slated for New England’s electric generating plants…
Continue reading

| | |

New England Pipeline May Reverse Flow & Pump Marcellus Gas

If there’s a silver lining to the misery of this long, cold, hard winter, it’s that the energy shortage this winter has precipitated an attitude change in New England–a place with a dearth of natural gas even though there’s plenty to be had. Gone are the snotty, haughty attitudes of anti-fracking New Englanders that they don’t want any of that filthy, nasty, fracked natural gas. Not only do they now want it, they can’t get it fast enough because of price spikes up to 10 times the norm. That’ll grab your attention. Maybe fracking ain’t so bad after all, eh?

The latest about face comes from the State of Maine. They need more natural gas and they need it bad. There’s a pipeline that comes down from Nova Scotia into Maine that’s supposed to carry natural gas produced offshore. Problem is, the offshore wells aren’t producing all that much and the pipeline isn’t delivering all that much. So there’s now talk that Spectra Energy, owner of the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline, is willing to reverse the flow (which takes equipment and time) so that the pipeline will be bi-directional and can begin to carry cheap Marcellus Shale gas from PA up into Maine. We’re trying not to dance up and down and yell “Love it! Told’ya so!” Well, maybe just a little jig…
Continue reading

| | | | | |

Spectra Energy Files Formal Request with FERC for OPEN Pipeline

When it comes to building a new natural gas pipeline, it’s a loooooong process to get the route planned and approved. Once that’s done, depending on how long the pipeline is, it takes a fair bit of time to actually build it. We started telling you about a proposed new pipeline project from Spectra Energy back in December of 2011 called the Ohio Pipeline Energy Network, or OPEN (see Chesapeake Investing in New 70-Mile Ohio Pipeline). We brought you an update on this interesting project last August (see Spectra’s OH Pipeline Project Advances, Sept 20 Deadline w/FERC).

OPEN is an interesting project because it will build 76 miles of new pipeline that connects to the Texas Eastern Pipeline, and then reverses the flow on the Texas Eastern to carry Marcellus and Utica Shale gas from eastern Ohio to the Gulf Coast. The Texas Eastern will become a bi-directional pipeline, sometimes bringing gas north from the Gulf, other times sending it to the south to the Gulf. The new news about the OPEN project is this: Spectra Energy made their full, official filing with FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) last week seeking FERC’s blessing to go ahead build it starting the new pipeline in December of this year. Here’s the story as reported by Reuters:
Continue reading

| | | |

NYC’s Energy Infrastructure “Transformed,” Boston’s is Not – Why?

We find it amusing that mainstream media is so narcissistic and navel-gazing that if a story doesn’t originate from NYC/DC media axis, it’s as if the story never existed. Case in point: The Atlantic magazine trumpets “no one noticed” that last month a whole lot more natural gas started flowing to New York City because of a new $1.2 billion pipeline from Spectra Energy connecting NJ to NY. Uh, excuse us Atlantic, but MDN noticed. We’ve been covering this story for the past two years! We told readers back on Oct. 21 that Spectra was opening the valves on an additional 800 million cubic feet of mostly cheap Marcellus Shale gas per day (see Spectra NJ-NY Marcellus Gas Pipeline Goes Online Nov. 1).

It may take a few months, but we’re glad to see some mainstream media outlets finally, grudgingly, report the good news. However, there are other stories the media continues to ignore, like why Boston will continue to pay high prices for their natural gas even though there’s plenty of cheap gas to be had. There’s a pretty simple explanation…
Continue reading

| | | | | |

Spectra NJ-NY Marcellus Gas Pipeline Goes Online Nov. 1

It’s been a long road and a long time in coming, but the good news is that starting Nov. 1, residents of New York City will have another 800 million cubic feet of cheap mostly-Marcellus natural gas flowing into the city through Spectra Energy’s 16 mile, $1.2 billion pipeline from New Jersey to New York. The pipeline will flow enough gas to heat 2 million homes in NYC each year. Outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called more natgas for NYC “vital”. Most New Yorkers are in favor of the new pipeline, but that didn’t deter some from trying to stop the new pipeline.

During construction of the pipeline Spectra had to deal with a lot of nonsense, like protesters who turned into strippers (see NYC Pipeline Protesters Get Naked, Paint Themselves Green), protesters who didn’t even tell themselves they were about to spontaneously break the law (see Nutjob Protester Stops NYC Pipeline Construction for 2 Hours), and groups of protesters like the [In]Sane Energy Project that sued to stop the pipeline (see Judge Tosses Out Lawsuit Against Spectra NYC Pipeline Project). Spectra pressed on through it all and they’re about to turn on the valve Nov. 1. Success at last!…
Continue reading

| | |

Spectra Energy’s Algonquin Pipeline Expansion in CT

Spectra Energy wants to bring more of the northeast’s Marcellus and Utica Shale gas to markets in…the northeast! Now there’s a novel idea. In order to do that, Spectra is looking to spend at least $500 million (MDN’s estimate) to expand the pipeline capacity of their existing Algonquin Gas Transmission system. The project calls for 25.6 miles of various segments of existing mainline relay and loop that includes 1.2 miles of new pipeline to be installed beneath the Hudson River using a horizontal directional drill; construction of approximately 18 miles of lateral pipeline relay, loop and expansion; modifications to existing compressor stations in New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island; construction of three new meter stations; and modifications to existing meter stations. The upgrades and expansion will increase the pipeline’s capacity by up to 433,000 dekatherms per day.

One of the markets Spectra will take the extra gas to is Connecticut. We get an update on Spectra’s Algonquin project in that state from the Connecticut Post…
Continue reading

| | | | |

Spectra’s TEAM 2014 Pipeline Loops Coming to Berks County, PA

Spectra Energy is in the midst of a multi-year $500 million project to expand its Texas Eastern pipeline in the northeast to boost capacity to bring Marcellus and Utica Shale gas to markets in the northeast, Midwest and south. The project, called the Texas Eastern Appalachia to Market Expansion 2014 (or “TEAM 2014”) involves upgrading existing compressor plants and building new “loops” of pipeline next to existing pipeline in southeastern Pennsylvania.

One of the counties where Spectra plans to build new looping pipeline is Berks County, where residents have until mid-October to make comments on (and support!) Spectra’s proposed TEAM 2014 plans…
Continue reading

| | | | | | | |

Spectra’s OH Pipeline Project Advances, Sept 20 Deadline w/FERC

More than 1 1/2 years ago MDN told you about a planned new 70-mile pipeline and compressor station to connect Utica and Marcellus wells in eastern Ohio to Spectra Energy’s Texas Eastern pipeline system (see Chesapeake Investing in New 70-Mile Ohio Pipeline). Called the Ohio Pipeline Energy Network (OPEN), the project is a $500 million joint venture between Chesapeake Energy, American Electric Power and Spectra Energy. Not since December 2011 have we heard any news about the project–until now.

Even though there’s been no media coverage, Spectra has been hard at work planning and holding public meetings for feedback on eight different proposed pipeline routes. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has given Spectra until Sept. 20 to tell them which alternative is their preferred route. FERC will then make a decision and (presumably) issue a permit that will allow Spectra to begin construction. An update on the OPEN project…
Continue reading

| | | | | | |

Top 4 of Top 10 Midstream Companies Operate in Marcellus/Utica

We’re now at the halfway mark of 2013 (wow is this year going fast!), so The Motley Fool investor’s website performed an analysis of the “top 10” midstream (pipelines and processing plants) companies and their stock prices–to see which companies are providing the best returns. The thing that caught MDN’s eye about the Motley Fool list is that 4 of the 10–in fact the top 4–are major operators in the Marcellus/Utica Shale region.

Here’s who made the top 10 midstream list, and surprisingly, who didn’t…
Continue reading

| | | | | | | | |

NEXUS Pipeline Route Through Stark County, OH

Last week MDN told you about the proposed Ohio route of the planned NEXUS Gas Transmission natural gas pipeline, a $1.5 billion project that will run from Ohio to Michigan and eventually to Canada–delivering Utica Shale gas to Midwestern markets (see OH Route of Proposed NEXUS Gas Pipeline Revealed). Ever so gradually more pieces of the puzzle are falling into place on where, exactly, the pipeline will run. In a Stark County, OH article, for example, we learn the strategy is to use existing power line rights of way and the new pipeline will likely cross through Washington, Nimishillen, Marlboro and Lake townships in Stark on its way from Kensington–where the new M3 Midstream gas processing plant is almost ready to go online.

Here’s the Stark County piece of the NEXUS pipeline route puzzle:
Continue reading

| | | | | | | |

OH Route of Proposed NEXUS Gas Pipeline Revealed

Last September MDN told you about a new $1.5 billion Utica Shale natural gas pipeline that would run from Ohio through Michigan and eventually into Canada, delivering Utica Shale gas to Midwestern markets (see New Utica Shale Pipeline to Midwest Announced). The project is called the NEXUS Gas Transmission (NGT) pipeline and is being built by DTE Energy, Enbridge amd Spectra Energy. Since the pipeline was announced, we’ve had precious few details on the proposed route. Until now…
Continue reading

| | | | | | | |

Nexus NatGas Pipeline to Run Through Akron/Canton Area

Last September MDN told you about a newly announced major Utica Shale natural gas pipeline that would run from Ohio through Michigan and into Canada (see New Utica Shale Pipeline to Midwest Announced). The project, called the Nexus Gas Transmission system, is a joint venture between DTE Energy, Spectra Energy and Enbridge. Although details of its planned route have still not been disclosed, the Akron Beacon Journal is reporting the pipeline will run through several communities in the Akron-Canton area.

An update on the project from the Beacon Journal:
Continue reading

| | | | | | |

Judge Tosses Out Lawsuit Against Spectra NYC Pipeline Project

Spectra Energy continues to battle environmental extremists who want nothing to do with more natural gas (especially “filthy” shale gas) coming into New York City, even though NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg calls more natural gas “vital” to the city. Spectra has had to battle nutty protesters that strip down (see NYC Pipeline Protesters Get Naked, Paint Themselves Green), and even protesters who don’t tell themselves they’re about to break the law (see Nutjob Protester Stops NYC Pipeline Construction for 2 Hours).

The protesters and their more adult-acting supporters took Spectra to court in New York State to stop the 16-mile pipeline from New Jersey to New York City from being built. A judge has just tossed the lawsuit telling the protesters, “wrong court”…

Continue reading