Alliance Pipeline Selects October 30, 2000 as Commercial In-Service Date
CALGARY, Sept. 8 /CNW/ - Alliance Pipeline has selected October 30, 2000 as its commercial in-service date. When construction of the Alliance Pipeline system was scheduled nearly three years ago, October 2000 was forecast for start-up, with a target date of October 2.
Norm Gish, Alliance Pipeline Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer says, "We are extremely pleased that we will be successful in bringing Alliance into commercial operation in October as planned. We have selected October 30 as the specific date to ensure that we have adequate time for commissioning and testing the extensive facilities of the Alliance Pipeline system. With the very tight construction schedule, often hampered by rain, and the complexity of commissioning and testing this incredibly large system, it is remarkable that we have had to adjust the targeted date for commercial service by only a few weeks. This achievement is a tribute to the commitment of thousands of people who have participated in bringing the Alliance system into reality."
Gish concludes, "We are making this announcement today to accommodate final commissioning activities that will ensure reliable start-up of our facilities and to provide our shippers with the opportunity to arrange their business in an orderly fashion for the industry gas year which starts November 1."
Background
The Alliance Pipeline system is designed to deliver 37.5 million cubic metres (1.325 billion cubic feet) of natural gas per day on a firm basis from the gas producing regions of northeastern British Columbia and northwestern Alberta to the Chicago, Illinois area where it interconnects with the North American pipeline grid.
1. Alliance Pipeline Limited Partnership (a Canadian entity) owns and
will operate 2,257 kilometres (1,402 miles) of pipeline (mainline and
laterals) and appurtenant facilities in Canada, which were constructed
at a direct capital cost of approximately $C2.4 billion (US$1.6
billion).
2. Alliance Pipeline L.P. (an American entity) owns and will operate 888
miles (1,429 kilometers) of pipeline (mainline and delivery) and
appurtenant facilities in the U.S., which were constructed at a direct
capital cost of approximately $US1.5 billion (C$2.3 billion).
Currently, over 99% of the total pipeline system has been installed, including 14 mainline compressor stations, 37 receipt points in British Columbia and Alberta, and 7 delivery points in Illinois.
Commissioning activities on the Alliance Pipeline system commenced in March 2000. Commissioning, a systematic, transitional process marks the change from construction to operation and ensures that equipment providing power, communication, gas compression, transmission and monitoring is working efficiently, effectively and safely. Commissioning includes the flowing of natural gas into the completed sections of line to purge air from the pipe.
At present, approximately 95% of the Alliance Pipeline system has been purged. This includes all the mainline portion of the system (2,988 kilometers - 1,857 miles) from near Gordondale, Alberta to the delivery section near Joliet, Illinois and 493 kilometers of 698 kilometres (306 miles of 434 miles) of the laterals receipt portion of the system. Additionally, 25 receipt point meter stations have been commissioned. Final commissioning activities are also being completed at 14 mainline compressor stations.
To date, approximately 170 million cubic metres (6 billion cubic feet) of natural gas is in the commissioned mainline and lateral portions of the system, with the ultimate line pack targeted at approximately 226 million cubic metres (8 billion cubic feet).
Investors in the Alliance Pipeline system include affiliates of:
- Coastal Corporation (NYSE:CGP - news) - 14.4%
- Enbridge Inc. (TSE:ENB - news) - 21.4%
- Fort Chicago Energy Partners LP (TSE:FCE.UN - news) - 26.0%
- The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB - news) - 14.6%
- Westcoast Energy Inc. (TSE:W - news) - 23.6%
Alliance Pipeline Limited Partnership and Alliance Pipeline L.P.
Alliance Pipeline Limited Partnership is a limited partnership formed under the laws of Alberta. Alliance Pipeline L.P. is a limited partnership formed under the laws of Delaware. Alliance Pipeline Ltd. is the General Partner of the Alliance Pipeline Limited Partnership Alliance Pipeline Inc. is the Managing General Partner of the Alliance Pipeline L.P.
For further information
Alliance Pipeline contact: Jack Crawford, Vice-President, Public, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Jay Godfrey, Manager, Communications, 1-800-717-9017, More information: www.alliance-pipeline.com |
