Williams

Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Transco | Williams

Transco NE Upgrade Complete, Marcellus Gas Flows to 1M New Homes
November 5, 2013November 5, 2013

MDN told you yesterday that Kinder Morgan had started flowing natual gas through their newly added Northeast Upgrade to the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (see Kinder Morgan Opens the Valves on TGP Northeast Upgrade). That upgrade brought an additional 636,000 dekatherms per day of additional capacity to the system–enough gas to meet the needs of 2.5 million homes. Right on the heels of that announcement Williams Partners announced they have completed their Transco pipeline upgrade–the Northeast Supply Link Expansion. Williams started flowing gas through the remainder of the Transco upgrade last Friday.

The Transco expansion adds another 250,000 dekatherms per day, enough gas to meet the needs of 1 million homes. The new gas that’s flowing through both the Williams and TGP pipeline upgrades comes from the Marcellus Shale and services East Coast cities like New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Charlotte. The announcement from Williams says (a) their project came online ahead of schedule, in time for the 2013-2014 winter heating season, and (b) they’re in the midst of spending another $1.5 billion on infrastructure projects in the Marcellus/Utica–right now…
Read More “Transco NE Upgrade Complete, Marcellus Gas Flows to 1M New Homes”
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Enterprise Products Partners | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | MarkWest Energy | Pipelines | Sunoco Logistics | Williams

“Midstream Knife Fight” – Who Will Have 1st Operational NGL Pipeline to Gulf?
November 1, 2013November 1, 2013

In the race to be the first pipeline to flow ethane from the Marcellus/Utica region to a cracker plant elsewhere, it looks like Sunoco Logistics may have won. Their Mariner West pipeline to Sarnia, Canada has been in testing since July and due to turn throw the valve wide open in November, according to Range Resources (see Range Resources 3Q13: Nearing 1 Bcf/d, Rev Up 29%, Costs Down 12%). However, not to be outdone, the Appalachia to Texas Express (ATEX) ethane pipeline being built by Enterprise Products Partners now says they will go fully online in December, months ahead of schedule (see ATEX Ethane Pipeline to Begin Pumping Dec 2013, Ahead of Schedule). Both pipelines going online a month apart? We’d call it a photo finish with Mariner West winning by a nose.

Now everyone’s attention is turning to mixed NGL (natural gas liquids) pipelines. There’s another horse race heating up. Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners are building the Bluegrass pipeline to the Gulf Coast (see Bluegrass Pipeline Launches Open Season, on Track for 2015 Launch). And then there is Kinder Morgan and MarkWest Utica who have joined forces to build a mixed NGL pipeline to the Gulf Coast too (see 2 New OH Projects: Cryo Processing Plant & NGL Pipeline to Gulf). Which one will be the first to go operational? Several analysts weigh in with their colorful opinions…
Read More ““Midstream Knife Fight” – Who Will Have 1st Operational NGL Pipeline to Gulf?”
Energy Services | Williams

Williams 3Q13: Income Down 10% Companywide, NE Still Not Profitable
November 1, 2013November 1, 2013

Williams Partners is one of the biggest midstream companies (pipelines and processing plants) in the Marcellus/Utica region. Wednesday they issued their third quarter financial and operational update in the never-ending parade of quarterly updates. And what did it show? The company overall saw a 10% decrease in net income for 3Q13 vs 3Q12, mostly because of lower prices for natural gas liquids and the compounds made from them. The news from Williams’ northeast operations is that they continue to bleed money (in the red) in 3Q13, but not as bad as 3Q12. Revenues are up in the northeast, but spending to build out their infrastructure is up more.

Below are select portions of the Wednesday update. We first provide you with the big picture introductory stuff to the set the stage, and then select out the northeast (Marcellus/Utica) sections:
Read More “Williams 3Q13: Income Down 10% Companywide, NE Still Not Profitable”
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Pipelines | Williams

Bluegrass Pipeline Launches Open Season, on Track for 2015 Launch
October 25, 2013October 25, 2013

Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners that are together building the Bluegrass Pipeline–a natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline from the Utica/Marcellus region in the northeast all the way to the Gulf Coast–announced yesterday they will conduct a binding open season for drillers to sign up to use the new pipeline, starting next week on Oct 29.

The most recent edition of the Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook (Volume 2), estimates the Bluegrass Pipeline project will cost on the order of $1.5 billion to complete. Construction is under way now and the new pipeline, with an initial takeaway capacity of 200,000 barrels per day, is expected to be done and in service in late 2015. The announcement (and more details) from Williams and Boardwalk:
Read More “Bluegrass Pipeline Launches Open Season, on Track for 2015 Launch”
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Pipelines | Williams

Bluegrass Pipeline Makes Progress in Bluegrass State
October 18, 2013October 18, 2013

In early September, MDN reported that Williams and Boardwalk Partners, joint venture partners building a natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline that will stretch from the Utica/Marcellus all the way to the Gulf Coast, had hit some problems in crossing Kentucky (see Bluegrass NGL Pipeline Hits Brick Wall in the Bluegrass State).

The companies now report they have landowner agreements in place for nine of 13 counties they need to cross in KY, so progress is definitely being made…
Read More “Bluegrass Pipeline Makes Progress in Bluegrass State”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Luzerne County | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA | Transco | Williams

Williams Takes Next Step with Transco Leidy Pipeline Expansion
October 15, 2013October 15, 2013

Williams is hard at work on expanding their Transco Leidy interstate natural gas pipeline–especially in northeast PA around the Scranton area. The “Transco Leidy Southeast Expansion Project” is a massive $610 million project designed to increase the pipeline’s capacity by 525,000 decatherms per day–enough natural gas to serve 2 million homes. The expansion will pipe Marcellus Shale gas to points from New York City to the southeastern U.S. The project includes construction of approximately 30 miles of additional pipe segments, called loops, in PA and NJ, in addition to modifying some existing compressor stations and valve sites.

The Transco Leidy Southeast Expansion is a multi-year project that Williams hopes will be in service by the end of 2015. They recently took the next step in the project with an official filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). An update on the project’s status and what will happen next…
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Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Williams

Rumor Now Reality: Williams/Boardwalk to Build Gulf LPG Terminal
October 4, 2013October 4, 2013

Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners announced in March they will build a natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline that would run from the Marcellus/Utica region all the way to the Gulf Coast. They dubbed the new pipeline the Bluegrass Pipeline (see Williams, Boardwalk Announce Marcellus-to-Gulf Coast NGL Pipeline). But where would the new pipeline connect to along the Gulf Coast to process the NGLs? In July, we heard rumors that Williams and Boardwalk were considering building a new LPG export facility to process and export the Marcellus/Utica NGLs (see Bluegrass NGL Pipeline Recap, Builders Eye LNG Exports Too).

It’s no longer a rumor…
Read More “Rumor Now Reality: Williams/Boardwalk to Build Gulf LPG Terminal”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Transco | Williams

Williams Goes Back to (PR) School Over Controlled Release Panic
October 3, 2013October 4, 2013

Williams scared the bejeebers out of teachers and students at the Dallas School District (near Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA) last Thursday when they did a controlled release of natural gas from their nearby Transco interstate natural gas pipeline. Williams was emptying part of the pipeline to work on it and the controlled release caused a panic and calls to 911 with concerns over a gas leak. Williams admits they could of/should of done a better job in communicating with residents in the community, and that they should of waited until after (or before) school hours to do the controlled release. Of course local anti-drillers seized on the “incident” to make some PR hay.

So, did Williams learn their lesson?…
Read More “Williams Goes Back to (PR) School Over Controlled Release Panic”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Williams

Williams Asks FERC to Approve $610M Transco SE Pipeline Expansion
October 1, 2013October 1, 2013

Previously MDN told you that Williams was holding an “open season” to gauge interest in expanding capacity on their Transco pipeline system to carry cheap Marcellus and Utica Shale natural gas from the northeast to the southeast (see Open Season to Expand Transco Pipeline in PA Marcellus). Drillers didn’t waste any time and the project is now “fully subscribed”–meaning all of the new increased capacity is now spoken for. So yesterday, Williams made a formal application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to expand the Transco–a project they call the Leidy Southeast expansion project.

Williams plans to spend $610 million, which includes laying 30 miles of new pipeline and upgrading compressor plants along the way…
Read More “Williams Asks FERC to Approve $610M Transco SE Pipeline Expansion”
Energy Services | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County | Williams | Wyoming County (PA)

Williams BBQ Hopes to Raise $80K for NE PA United Way
September 13, 2013September 13, 2013

A few days ago MDN told you about several drillers in Ohio–Antero Resources, PDC Energy and CONSOL Energy–who are “giving back” to the communities where they drill, by donating money to local schools (see Eastern OH Shale Drillers Donate to Local Schools). Today, a story about pipeline company Williams and their annual barbecue in northeast Pennsylvania–a “little” event that raised more than $40,000 for United Way campaigns in several counties.

At this year’s event (held yesterday), Williams was hoping to double that amount…
Read More “Williams BBQ Hopes to Raise $80K for NE PA United Way”
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Pipelines | Williams

Thank God the Bluegrass Pipeline will Bypass Marion County Nuns
September 10, 2013September 10, 2013

Thank God the Bluegrass Pipeline will avoid running through property owned by a bunch of liberal Catholic nuns in Marion County, KY. No really, thank the good Lord! (Can I hear an Amen?) Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners–the joint partners building the Bluegrass natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline, a pipeline that carries (gasp!!) “flammable liquids”–say the NGL pipeline will not cross the holy ground of the Sisters of Loretto. But have no fear, the sisters say they’ll oppose it wherever it goes anyway.

Don’t tell the sisters or the AP reporter writing the very slanted article (below), but natural gas running through bazillions of miles of natgas pipelines buried under the ground in every major and minor city across America is just as “flammable” as what will run through the Bluegrass Pipeline when it’s built and operating…
Read More “Thank God the Bluegrass Pipeline will Bypass Marion County Nuns”
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Williams

Bluegrass NGL Pipeline Hits Brick Wall in the Bluegrass State
September 6, 2013September 6, 2013

In a touch of irony, the Bluegrass Pipeline–a proposed new natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline that will stretch from the Utica/Marcellus region all the way to the Gulf Coast (see Williams, Boardwalk Announce Marcellus-to-Gulf Coast NGL Pipeline)–has hit a brick wall in the Bluegrass State–Kentucky.

Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline, co-owners of the project, maintain that because the Bluegrass Pipeline is an interstate pipeline they can (if need be) invoke eminent domain to force landowners to let them lay the pipeline under their property. Kentucky Energy Secretary Len Peters says not so fast. His team of legal beagles has researched it and they say the Bluegrass Pipeline does not have eminent domain status in the Bluegrass State. We see a legal show-down on the horizon…
Read More “Bluegrass NGL Pipeline Hits Brick Wall in the Bluegrass State”
Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Susquehanna County | Williams

Williams Evaluating Pipeline “Incident” in Dimock, PA
September 5, 2013

Residents in Dimock Township, PA near Carter Road–an area made infamous by Josh Fox in his Gasland movies–had a bit of a scare last Thursday when they heard a loud noise, like “a 747 jet plane.” As it turns out, it was noise coming from scheduled maintenance of a natural gas pipeline in the area owned and operated by Williams. A Williams spokeswoman says, “The process did not go as it should have.” Oops.

According to some concerned local pro-drilling residents, this is not the first Williams mishap in the area…
Read More “Williams Evaluating Pipeline “Incident” in Dimock, PA”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA | Transco | Williams

Open Season to Expand Transco Pipeline in PA Marcellus
August 13, 2013August 13, 2013

Williams has announced last Thursday an “open season” (a time to lock in contracts for natgas pipeline capacity) for their Transco pipeline in the Marcellus/Utica Shale region. If Williams gets enough interest, they’ll look to expand the Transco pipeline in PA and eventually move an additional 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the northeast to markets along the East Coast and the southeast.

The story from Reuters:
Read More “Open Season to Expand Transco Pipeline in PA Marcellus”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Williams

Bluegrass NGL Pipeline Encounters Resistance from Some in KY
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

The Bluegrass natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline, announced in March 2013, will run from the Marcellus/Utica region southwest all the way to the Gulf Coast in Louisiana (see Williams, Boardwalk Announce Marcellus-to-Gulf Coast NGL Pipeline). The pipeline’s route will take it through Kentucky, where it will connect to Boardwalk’s Texas Gas Transmission, LLC system (Texas Gas) in Hardinsburg, KY. From Hardinsburg, the existing natgas Texas Gas pipeline will be converted to run NGLs. The entire project is slated to be up and running by late 2015.

However, some residents in KY are objecting to the pipeline. Do they have any valid points?…
Read More “Bluegrass NGL Pipeline Encounters Resistance from Some in KY”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County | Williams

Last Document Released in Hallowich v Range $750K Settlement
August 1, 2013August 7, 2013

It’s been a long struggle for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter, but they finally won–if you can call it a win. Last year, both newspapers sued to have a sealed court case opened. The case involves an off-the-record settlement between the Hallowich family in Washington County, PA and Range Resources, MarkWest Energy and Williams (see Pittsburgh Newspapers Sue to Unseal Drilling Court Case). The Hallowiches claimed nearby drilling and pipeline activity threatened the health of their family–in particular their two children. Range and the other plaintiffs elected to settle, but the case and all of the documents were closed as part of the settlement. So the newspapers sued to have the record opened.

In March of this year, a different judge reviewed the case and ordered the court documents be opened (see Judge Orders Range/Landowner Settlement in PA Made Public). Anti-drillers were disappointed to learn that there were no smoking guns–no admissions or evidence of any kind that drilling activity had polluted water, air, etc. In fact, among the documents was an affidavit signed by the Hallowiches stating that drilling had not caused any adverse health impacts for their family (see Affidavit in Range PA Settlement Shows No Drilling Health Impacts). However, there was one final document not made public by the court and the newspapers kept hounding. Success at last! The final document was released this week (copy embedded below). What does it say?…
Read More “Last Document Released in Hallowich v Range $750K Settlement”