Supported by shipper commitments obtained during a four-week open season that ended in April 2011, the project will include a looping of the existing pipeline system with up to 467 km of 16 inch diameter pipeline, as well as pump station modifications.
The additional capacity is designed to accommodate growing natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) production from major basins in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico, according to Enterprise.
Several new natural gas processing plants are being constructed in the Uinta, Piceance, and Greater Green River basins that should fill the expansion by the third quarter of 2014, depending on the approval of regulatory agencies.
“We have received strong demand for this expansion of the Mid-America system,” Enterprise Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer A.J. Teague said.
“Shippers executed ten-year, firm, ship-or-pay transportation agreements representing a total initial commitment of 38,500 bbl/d with options that could ultimately increase the total expansion to 85,000 bbl/d.
The Rocky Mountain portion of the pipeline system extends more than 4,800 km, and transports NGLs from the Overthrust and San Juan basin areas to Enterprise’s Hobbs fractionator in Gaines County, Texas.