New gas pipeline projects into New England will add needed capacity

Several natural gas pipeline projects, either planned or underway in New England, are expected to increase deliverability into the region, according to the U.S. Energy Administration.

EIA reports that four natural gas pipeline upgrade projects in the region will add more than 350 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas by 2023.

The pipeline capacity into New England from both Canada and New York was 5,200 MMcf/d at the end of 2019. During peak demand days in the winter, most of this capacity is fully utilized. That can lead to spikes in spot natural gas prices. These new projects should help ease the pipeline constraints into New England.

The largest of these pipeline projects is the Iroquois Enhancement by Compression Project. By increasing the horsepower at three compression stations in New York and Connecticut, the Iroquois pipeline will increase its capacity by 125 MMcf/d.

Also, the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System will increase the volumes of natural gas imports from Canada received from the TransQuébec and Martimes pipelines at Pittsburg, New Hampshire. The Portland Xpress Project Phase III will add 24 MMcf/d of capacity in 2020, and the Westbrook Xpress Project Phase II will add 63 MMcf/d of capacity in 2021.

Further, Algonquin’s Atlantic Bridge Phase II project will add 92.7 MMcf/d of additional capacity into New England when it goes live in either 2020 or 2021. In addition, the Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s Station projects will provide an additional 72 MMcf/d of capacity. This pipeline Is expected to enter service in 2020.