Name of the Project
Mountain Valley pipeline (MVP) project and Equitrans expansion project (EEP).
Location
The combined MVP and EEP pipeline system will span an estimated 484 km from north-western West Virginia to southern Virginia, in the US.
Client
The MVP will be built and owned by Mountain Valley Pipeline, which is a joint venture (JV) between EQT Midstream Partners; NextEra US Gas Assets; Con Edison Gas Midstream; WGL Midstream; Vega Midstream MVP; and RGC Midstream. EQT Midstream Partners will operate the pipeline and own a significant interest in the JV. The MVP will extend the Equitrans transmission system in Wetzel County, West Virginia, to Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company’s (Transco) Zone 5 compressor station 165 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The EEP pipeline and compressor station assets related to the expansion project will be operated by Equitrans – a wholly owned subsidiary of EQT Midstream Partners, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Project Description
The purpose of the MVP and the EEP is to transport natural gas produced in the Appalachian basin to markets in the north-east, mid-Atlantic, and south-eastern US.
The MVP is designed to transport about two-million dekatherms a day (Dth/d) of contracted volumes of natural gas.
As currently planned, the MVP pipeline will be up to 107 cm in diameter and will require about 15 m of permanent easement (with 38 m of temporary easement during construction). In addition, the project proposes the construction of three compressor stations in Wetzel, Braxton, and Fayette counties of West Virginia; four new meter stations and interconnects, two taps, 36 mainline valves, five pig launchers/receivers, and 31 cathodic protection beds.
The EEP will transport up to 600 000 Dth/d of contracted firm capacity of natural gas. The EEP proposal will involve the construction and operation of about 13 km of various natural gas pipeline in various diameters, one new compressor station, two interconnects, three pig launcher and receiver sites, and cathodic protection beds, and the decommissioning of an existing compressor station. No meter stations or mainline valves are associated with the EEP. The pipeline facilities will be built of steel and installed underground for their entire length.
Jobs to be Created
During peak employment, the MVP project is expected to contribute more than 4 400 jobs to the Virginia economy, and an estimated 4 500 jobs to West Virginia’s economy.
Value
The project is estimated at $3.50-billion.
Duration
Both projects are expected to be in service by the fourth quarter of 2018.
Latest Developments
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has concluded that construction and operation of the project will result in some unfavourable environmental impacts; however, these impacts will be reduced with the implementation of the MVP’s proposed mitigation measures and the additional measures recommended in the environmental impact statement.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.
On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
MVP, email mail@mountainvalleypipeline.info or media ncox@eqt.com.
EEP. email equitransproject@eqt.com.