Name of the Project
Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project.
Location
US.
Client
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco), a subsidiary of Williams.
Project Description
The project aims to expand Transco’s existing pipeline system from the Marcellus shale production area, in northern Pennsylvania, to deliver an incremental 1.7-million dekatherms a day of year-round firm transportation capacity to its existing south-eastern market areas.
The proposed project includes about 317 km of pipeline comprising:
• about 300 km of new 76-cm- and 107-cm-diameter greenfield natural gas pipeline;
• a pipeline known as Central Penn Line (CPL) North and CPL South, in Pennsylvania;
• 19 km of new 91- and 107-cm-diameter looping pipeline, known as the Chapman and Unity loops, in Pennsylvania;
• 4 km of 76-cm-diameter replacements in Virginia; and
• associated equipment and facilities.
The project’s above-ground facilities will include:
• Two new compressor stations in Pennsylvania;
• additional compression and associated modifications to three existing compressor stations in Pennsylvania and Maryland;
• two new meter stations and three new regulator stations in Pennsylvania; and
• minor modifications at existing above-ground facilities at various locations in Pennsylvania, Virginia and North and South Carolina to allow for bidirectional flow, and the installation of supplemental odourisation, odour detection, and/or odour masking/deodorisation equipment.
Potential Job Creation
During peak construction periods, the project is expected to directly employ an estimated 2 300 people in ten Pennsylvania counties. In addition, the project could support an additional 6 000 jobs in related industries and generate up to $1.6-billion in economic activity, according to researchers at Pennsylvania State University.
Value
$3-billion.
Duration
The pipeline is scheduled to be put into full service in mid-2018.
Latest Developments
Construction is officially under way in Pennsylvania on the greenfield portion of the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project.
Construction broke ground in Pennsylvania on September 15, 2017, in Columbia and Wyoming counties as site preparation began for two new natural gas compressor facilities.
Compressor Station 605 is a new 30 000 hp facility in Clinton Township, in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, being built by VEC.
Compressor Station 610 is a new 40 000 hp facility in Orange Township, in Columbia County, Pennsylvani, being built by LMC Industrial Contractors.
Construction began mid-2016 on the mainline portion of the Atlantic Sunrise project designed to accommodate bidirectional flow on the existing Transco pipeline system. A portion of the capacity created by these mainline modifications was recently placed into service.
Williams has worked closely with permitting agencies to minimise environmental and stakeholder impacts, making modifications to more than half of the original pipeline route. In addition, Williams has worked with local stakeholders to provide an additional $2.5-million for conservation projects in the project area.
With all necessary permits and construction releases in place, Williams plans to begin pipeline construction in Pennsylvania as early as September 25, 2017. Pipeline construction will consist of eight different construction spreads, six of which will work concurrently in eight Pennsylvania counties. The estimated 300 km pipeline installation will be completed by four primary construction contractors – Henkels & McCoy, Latex Construction Company, Michels Corporation and Welded Construction.
Pipeline and compressor station construction is expected to last about ten months, weather permitting. The nearly $3-billion project, which is designed to increase natural gas deliveries by 1.7 billion cubic feet per day, is scheduled to be placed into full service in mid-2018.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
Henkels & McCoy, Latex Construction Company, Michels Corporation and Welded Construction (pipeline construction).
On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Transco, email AtlanticSunrise@williams.com.