Canadian gas imports to New York, New England surging in 1992. (Technology) (Cover Story)

Northeast U.S. gas-pipeline construction activity in 1991 and 1992 has focused on moving gas o two corridors. By the year 2000, more than 3 bcfd of additional natural gas from Canadian and U.S. producing areas could be flowing into New York, New Jersey, and the New England states. With the recent completion of Iroquois Gas Transmission Inc.'s line, additional (mostly Canadian) gas has begun to move into the U.S. Northeast. The gas moves from producing areas in Alberta via TransCanada PipeLines Ltd.'s (TCPL) system or across several northern U.S. states, across Ontario, into western New York State, and on into New England. After a flurry of expansion activity in 1989 and 1990 around Lebanon, Ohio, gas from the U.S. Gulf Coast, Arkoma, and Midcontinent areas has begun to flow in larger volumes across Ohio into Pennsylvania for customers in New York, New Jersey, and southern New England. This first of two articles on 1991-92 gas-pipeline construction in the U.S. Northeast looks at projects to move as much as 2.2 bcfd of Canadian gas over that northerly route; the conclusion will focus on projects for another 945 MMcfd, mostly U.S. gas arriving through the Lebanon hub.

Iroquois Gas Transmission (IGT) Co.'s 370-mile line from the New York-Canada border to Long Island began moving initial volumes Dec. 1, 1991, and was fury in service on Jan. 28.

By Nov. 1, this line will be moving its currently certificated 576 MMcfd to customers in New York and Connecticut and on Long Island.

This year, Tennessee Gas will complete much of its construction to move additional volumes of Canadian gas across the Niagara River at Lewiston, N.Y., with final loops along its northern line through New York State and into Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Last year the TABULAR DATA OMITTED company completed its Niagara Spur from the Niagara River to near East Aurora, N.Y.

Also last year, Great Lakes Transmission Co., Detroit, completed a major expansion project on its system to move more Canadian volumes across northern U.S. states for delivery to other U.S. carriers as well as for redelivery to TCPL for U.S. points east of Ontario.

Two future projects are also planned.

The Empire State Pipeline, to be built and operated by ANR Pipeline, a subsidiary of Coastal Corp., Houston, has been approved by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC; OGJ, July 22, 1991, p. 25).

But the project awaits a review by Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) of the board's earlier denial of a Canadian connection at the Canada-New York border (OGJ, Jan. 20, p. 23).

And another project is being advanced to move mostly Alberta-produced gas out of Quebec into Maine, New Hampshire, and eastern Massachusetts. It would begin deliveries by 1996.

Iroquois at last

Delaying actions by U. S. producers, fuel-oil interests, and environmental groups failed to stop FERC approval of Iroquois (OGJ, Mar. 11, 1991, p. 32). And difficulties with New York State regulatory bodies only temporarily halted construction (OGJ, Sept. 16, 1991, p. 42; Oct. 21, 1991, p. 38) of the 370-mile, 576-MMcfd IGT system from Canada to Long Island.

Partial operations commenced Dec. 1, 1991, with 210 MMcfd in the upper portion of the fine from Canada to the interconnection with Tennessee Gas Pipeline at Wright, N.Y.

Operations over the full length of the system began Jan. 28.

Of the gas transported by IGT, 51% will go to gas utilities and power generators in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

The remaining 49% will be transported to gas utilities and power generators in New York State and New Jersey.

As of Jan. 28, shippers moving gas included: Yankee Gas Services Co. (28 MMcfd), Connecticut Natural Gas Corp. (13 MMcfd), Southern Connecticut Gas Co. (20 MMcfd), Brooklyn Union Gas Co. (51 MMcfd), Long Island Lighting Co. (47 MMcfd), Consolidated Edison Co. of New York (21 MMcfd), Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. (15.5 MMcfd), Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (35 Mmcfd), Boston Gas Co. (8.6 MMcfd), Commonwealth Gas Co. (4.5 MMcfd), Colonial Gas Co. (6 MMcfd), Essex County Gas Co. (2 MMcfd), New Jersey Natural Gas Co. (39 MMcfd), and Public Service Electric & Gas Co. (10 MMcfd).

Shippers that expect to be taking gas later this year include Granite State Gas Transmission, New England Power Co., MassPower Inc., Dartmouth Power Associates, and Pawtucket Power Associates.

IGT is a partnership of 12 U.S. and Canadian energy …