Open season announced to secure Vector pipeline expansion

The additional expansion proposes to add long-haul capacity of up to 115 MMcf/d by adding two new compressors and upgrades to the United States (US) portion of the system. The expansion could also include incremental short-haul capacity by adding a loop to the US and/or Canadian portion of the pipeline system.

Vector has said that if the open season attracts sufficient shipper support for the expansion, the in-service date for the long-haul capacity is expected to be November 2011, assuming timely regulatory approvals.

Vector Pipeline Vice President of Marketing said “Vector is unique in this region in its ability to move gas west to east, to storage or eastern markets, as well as east to west, helping Midwestern markets access storage and eastern supplies.”

Binding bids for firm capacity will be accepted from 2 November 2009 until 30 November 2009, and a final determination of incremental capacity will be made following the conclusion of the binding open season.

The Vector pipeline system, constructed in 2000, has already undergone two expansion projects. The first involved the installation of compressor stations at Joliet, Illinois, and Washington, Michigan. The second expansion was completed in October 2009 and involved the construction of a compressor station at Athens, Michigan, increasing the nominal capacity of the pipeline from 1.2 Bcf/d to approximately 1.3 Bcf/d.

Vector Pipeline and Vector Pipeline Partnerships are joint ventures between Enbridge, which holds a 60 per cent interest, and DTE Energy, which holds the remaining interest.

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