Rockies Express Pipeline
Encyclopedia
The Rockies Express Pipeline is a 1679 miles (2,702.1 km) long high-speed natural gas
pipeline system from the Rocky Mountains
, Colorado
to eastern Ohio
. The pipeline system consists of three sections running through eight states. It is the largest natural gas pipeline built in the United States in more than 20 years, and one of the largest natural gas pipelines ever built in North America.
in Rio Blanco County, Colorado
, and the Cheyenne Hub in Weld County, Colorado
. Construction of this pipeline was authorized in August 2005. The pipeline project was acquired by Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC in February 2006. The 136 miles (218.9 km) long segment from the Meeker Hub to the Wamsutter Hub
in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, is of 36 inches (914.4 mm) pipeline, which is in service since February 2006. The 192 miles (309 km) long segment from the Wamsutter Hub to the Cheyenne Hub in Weld County, Colorado, is of 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) pipeline, which is in service since February 2007.
. It has a 5 miles (8 km) long 24 inches (609.6 mm) branch connecting pipeline with the Williams Energy owned Echo Springs Processing Plant.
On 31 May 2006, the Rockies Express Pipeline filed an application to construct and operate this section. The construction approval was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) on 20 April 2007. The first 503 miles (809.5 km) long segment of this pipeline was commissioned on 27 December 2007, and the second 214 miles (344.4 km) long segment was commissioned on 16 May 2008. It is in full service since 16 May 2008.
in Monroe County, Ohio
. The Rockies Express Pipeline filed an application to construct and operate this section on 30 April 2007 and the FERC issued approval on 30 May 2008.
, to Princeton, New Jersey
. Other extension project foresees connection of the Rockies Express Pipeline with the Spectra Energy
owned Texas Eastern Transmission pipeline. Spectra Energy has made a contract with ConocoPhillips
, according to which it will expand the Texas Eastern Transmission pipeline by 4 bcm per year to transport Rocky Mountains gas further to Pennsylvania
. This expansion, known as TIME III Project, is expected to be commissioned by November 2010. Another Spectra Energy’s project, known as Northern Bridge, will increase the capacity of a pipeline from Clarington, Ohio, to Oakford, Pennsylvania
, up to 5 bcm per year by late 2009. El Paso Corporation and Equitable Resources
plan to build an 471 miles (758 km) long expansion, known as the Northeast Passage Project, from Clarington to Pleasant Valley, New York
. Williams Companies
is planning the 471 miles (758 km) long Rockies Connector Pipeline, which would connect the Rockies Express Pipeline in Clarington with its owned Transcontinental Pipeline
in York County, Pennsylvania
.
and the Little Miami River
in Warren County
within Caesar Creek State Park
because of the risk of harming fish and other wildlife posed by drilling the pipeline beneath the rivers.
A Lawsuit by American Energy Corporation was filed against REX over the disruption of coal mine owned by AEC beneath REX. In light of past pipeline accidents, where subsiding abandoned mines have caused pipelines to fail, the wisdom of the location of that part of the REX pipeline is of concern to pipeline industry critics.
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
pipeline system from the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
to eastern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The pipeline system consists of three sections running through eight states. It is the largest natural gas pipeline built in the United States in more than 20 years, and one of the largest natural gas pipelines ever built in North America.
Technical description
The diameter of 1679 miles (2,702.1 km) long pipeline system varies between 36 and 42 in (914.4 and 1,066.8 mm). The capacity of the pipeline is 16.5 billion cubic meter (bcm) of natural gas per year. The whole pipeline costs around US$5 billion. The final section of the pipeline was completed on 12 November 2009.REX — Entrega
REX — Entrega is the 328 miles (527.9 km) long former Entrega Pipeline between the Meeker HubMeeker, Colorado
The Town of Meeker is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and the most populous town of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2,242 at the U.S. Census 2000. The town is largely an agricultural community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in...
in Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Rio Blanco County is the sixth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 5,986 at U.S. Census 2000. The name of the county is the Spanish language name for the White River which runs through it...
, and the Cheyenne Hub in Weld County, Colorado
Weld County, Colorado
As of the census of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
. Construction of this pipeline was authorized in August 2005. The pipeline project was acquired by Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC in February 2006. The 136 miles (218.9 km) long segment from the Meeker Hub to the Wamsutter Hub
Wamsutter, Wyoming
Wamsutter is a town in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 261 at the 2000 census.The original inhabitants of the area were the Shoshone and Ute tribes. Westerners did not really settle in the county until the coming of the railroad in the 1860s. Originally, the town was...
in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, is of 36 inches (914.4 mm) pipeline, which is in service since February 2006. The 192 miles (309 km) long segment from the Wamsutter Hub to the Cheyenne Hub in Weld County, Colorado, is of 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) pipeline, which is in service since February 2007.
REX — West
REX — West is a 713 miles (1,147.5 km) long 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) pipeline from Weld County, Colorado, to Audrain County, MissouriAudrain County, Missouri
Audrain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 25,529. Its county seat is Mexico. The county was organized in 1836. Audrain County was named for Col. James Hunter Audrain. Col. Audrain was Colonel of militia in the War of 1812. In 1830 Col...
. It has a 5 miles (8 km) long 24 inches (609.6 mm) branch connecting pipeline with the Williams Energy owned Echo Springs Processing Plant.
On 31 May 2006, the Rockies Express Pipeline filed an application to construct and operate this section. The construction approval was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is the United States federal agency with jurisdiction over interstate electricity sales, wholesale electric rates, hydroelectric licensing, natural gas pricing, and oil pipeline rates...
(FERC) on 20 April 2007. The first 503 miles (809.5 km) long segment of this pipeline was commissioned on 27 December 2007, and the second 214 miles (344.4 km) long segment was commissioned on 16 May 2008. It is in full service since 16 May 2008.
REX — East
REX — East is a 638 miles (1,026.8 km) long 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) pipeline from Audrain County, Missouri, to ClaringtonClarington, Ohio
Clarington is a village on the Ohio River in Monroe County, Ohio, United States. The population was 444 at the 2000 census.Clarington is served by the Monroe County District Library from its administrative offices in Woodsfield, Ohio.-Geography:...
in Monroe County, Ohio
Monroe County, Ohio
Monroe County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,642. Its county seat is Woodsfield and is named for James Monroe, Secretary of State when the county was formed and later President of the United States....
. The Rockies Express Pipeline filed an application to construct and operate this section on 30 April 2007 and the FERC issued approval on 30 May 2008.
Further interconnections
Several expansion projects have been proposed to transport gas further to northeast. The 375 miles (603.5 km) long Northeast Express project would run from Clarington and Lebanon, OhioLebanon, Ohio
The population at the 2010 census was 20,033. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,962 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,440.6 people per square mile . There were 6,218 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile...
, to Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. Other extension project foresees connection of the Rockies Express Pipeline with the Spectra Energy
Spectra Energy
Spectra Energy Corp is a S&P 500 company headquartered in Houston, Texas, that operates in three key areas of the natural gas industry: transmission and storage, distribution, and gathering and processing. Spectra was formed in late 2006 from the spin-off from Duke Energy...
owned Texas Eastern Transmission pipeline. Spectra Energy has made a contract with ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips Company is an American multinational energy corporation with its headquarters located in the Energy Corridor district of Houston, Texas in the United States...
, according to which it will expand the Texas Eastern Transmission pipeline by 4 bcm per year to transport Rocky Mountains gas further to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. This expansion, known as TIME III Project, is expected to be commissioned by November 2010. Another Spectra Energy’s project, known as Northern Bridge, will increase the capacity of a pipeline from Clarington, Ohio, to Oakford, Pennsylvania
Oakford, Pennsylvania
Oakford is a neighborhood within the boundaries of both Bensalem Township and Lower Southampton Township. It is located in the northwestern section of Bensalem Township and in the south central section of Lower Southampton Township. The zip code is 19053....
, up to 5 bcm per year by late 2009. El Paso Corporation and Equitable Resources
Equitable Resources
EQT Corporation is a Pittsburgh, United States-based, integrated energy company, supplying natural gas, crude oil, and gas-related services to wholesale and retail customers...
plan to build an 471 miles (758 km) long expansion, known as the Northeast Passage Project, from Clarington to Pleasant Valley, New York
Pleasant Valley (town), New York
Pleasant Valley is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 9,066 at the 2000 census. The town is centrally located in the county, northeast of the City of Poughkeepsie. US Route 44 passes through the town.-History:...
. Williams Companies
Williams Companies
The Williams Companies, Inc. is an energy company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its core business is natural gas exploration, production, processing, and transportation, with additional petroleum and electricity generation assets...
is planning the 471 miles (758 km) long Rockies Connector Pipeline, which would connect the Rockies Express Pipeline in Clarington with its owned Transcontinental Pipeline
Transcontinental Pipeline
Transcontinental Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline which brings gas from the Gulf coast of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to deliver gas to the New Jersey and New York City area. It is owned by the...
in York County, Pennsylvania
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
.
Partnership
The pipeline will be built and operated by Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC, a partnership between Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, ConocoPhillips and Sempra Energy. In February 2006, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and Sempra Energy acquired Entrega Gas Pipeline Inc., from EnCana Corporation. In June 2006, ConocoPhillips acquired 24% of the project.Environmental concerns
The pipeline project has raised some environmental concerns. Ohio officials have asked to avoid crossing the Big Darby Creek in Pickaway CountyPickaway County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 52,727 people, 17,599 households, and 13,287 families residing in the county. The population density was 105 people per square mile . There were 18,596 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
and the Little Miami River
Little Miami River
The Little Miami River is a Class I tributary of the Ohio River that flows through five counties in southwestern Ohio in the United States. The Little Miami joins the Ohio River east of Cincinnati. It forms parts of the borders between Hamilton and Clermont counties and between Hamilton and Warren...
in Warren County
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
within Caesar Creek State Park
Caesar Creek State Park
Caesar Creek State Park is located in southwestern Ohio, five miles east of Waynesville, in Warren, Clinton, and Greene Counties. The park is leased by the State from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who in the 1970s erected a dam on Caesars Creek to impound a lake. The total park area,...
because of the risk of harming fish and other wildlife posed by drilling the pipeline beneath the rivers.
A Lawsuit by American Energy Corporation was filed against REX over the disruption of coal mine owned by AEC beneath REX. In light of past pipeline accidents, where subsiding abandoned mines have caused pipelines to fail, the wisdom of the location of that part of the REX pipeline is of concern to pipeline industry critics.