Marcellus lateral project
From Wikimarcellus
In April, 2010, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners announced plans to expand the Cochin pipeline to transport Marcellus shale gas from western Pennsylvania 248 miles north to an interconnect at Riga, Michigan and also on into Chicago. The new 12 to 16-inch diameter pipeline is to be known as the Marcellus lateral project. It is to have a capacity of 75,000 bbl/d of natural gas liquids (NGLs) expandable up to 175,000 bbl/d.
Much of the NGLs were to be shipped to the Sarnia chemical complex in Ontario, Canada where BP, Nova, and Imperial have chemical plants. After reaching Riga, the route taken by the NGLs to Sarinia is through the present Cochin system to Windsor, Ontario. From there it is to flow through the Windsor-Sarnia Pipeline to Sarnia.
The flow through the eastern leg of the Cochin pipeline is to be reversed to transport gas from Riga into Chicago. An additional pipeline is planned in Chicago to connect up chemical plants, fractionation facilities, and refineries in the area.
The pipeline is expected to go online in mid-2012 transporting between 25,000 bbl/d and 150,000 bbl/d of Y-grade NGLs, ethane and other liquids.
In mid-June, 2010, KMEP announced a 30-day open season to gauge interest in its Marcellus lateral project.
- Karen Kabin is Senior Account Manager for Kinder Morgan.