Phase V Project
Phase IV Project

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Plans Phase V U.S. Expansion To Deliver New Offshore Natural Gas Supplies To Atlantic Canada and the Northeast Read the press release.

Public Notice of Natural Gas Releases in Brewer, Westbrook and Eliot, Maine. Download the Public Notice (PDF)

PHASE V PROJECT

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. ("Maritimes") is proposing to expand the capacity of the U.S. portion of its pipeline system with the Phase V Project.

The Phase V Project will provide additional capacity to transport new natural gas supplies from EnCana Corporation's ("EnCana") Deep Panuke project to markets in Atlantic Canada and the Northeast United States, where demand continues to grow.

Following a successful open season, Maritimes has executed a commercial agreement with a subsidiary of EnCana to transport up to 170,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) year-round, and an additional 30,000 Dth/d during the winter months.

The Phase V Project continues Maritime's efforts to add incremental supplies from diverse sources to ensure that Maine and the Northeast markets have access to ample volumes of natural gas.

With direct access to the Northeast, the Maritimes system is the ideal route to bring new volumes of offshore supply to growing markets.

Maritimes expects to place the approximately $240 million project into service in November of 2010.

Evaluation of Phase V Facilities

To meet the requirements of the Phase V Project, Maritime's is proposing to increase the system's capacity efficiently and economically through expansion of its facilities in Maine.

Optimizing these existing facilities will help to limit the proposed project's impacts to landowners, communities, and the environment.

Currently, Maritimes is proposing the installation of additional compression at our compressor station sites in Baileyville and Richmond and the compressor stations in Woodchopping Ridge, Brewer, Searsmont and Eliot that will be placed into service this year.

We are also proposing to install approximately 4 miles of 36-inch diameter pipeline loop along our existing pipeline corridor in Richmond. A map of the additional facilities being considered is located here (PDF).

In addition, Maritimes intends to implement an uprate of the operating pressure along its mainline system from Baileyville to Westbrook from 1440 psig to 1600 psig which was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2006. By implementing this uprate, Maritimes eliminates the need to construct approximately 50 miles of additional pipeline loop for the expansion capacity needed for the Phase V Project.

Project representatives are about to begin the process of collecting and studying the information necessary for the proposed expansion facilities.

Phase V Landowner Contacts

Maritimes has sent letters to property owners who are directly affected by or abutters to Maritime's existing compressor station sites and the proposed pipeline loop facilities to provide them with information on the Phase V Project and the review process.

In the near future, we will also be requesting permission to survey a portion of the properties along the proposed loop line so we have accurate, factual information to ensure the best possible design.

These surveys will consist of engineering, environmental and cultural resource studies which should take a minimal amount of time and should not result in any inconvenience to those property owners or the community.

This information will also provide the basis for generating discussion and commentary from all the appropriate stakeholders.

Public Outreach

As we move forward, Maritimes will work closely with landowners, public officials, regulatory agencies and interested parties to review the proposed facilities and address issues that may arise.

Further, we will conduct forums and meetings that will offer additional opportunities for public input.

For more information, landowners may contact our office in Freeport, Maine, toll free at 1-800-738-4880.

PHASE IV PROJECT

Expanding the Maritimes Pipeline - Phase IV

Construction on the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) is under way to double the capacity of the existing natural gas pipeline and allow for the delivery of significant new volumes of natural gas to growing markets in the Northeast U.S. and Maritimes Provinces.

The Phase IV Project will help meet the growing demand for natural gas in the region by delivering new supplies sourced from the Canaport™ LNG receiving and re-gas terminal currently being constructed in Saint John, New Brunswick. Canaport™ LNG is a limited partnership of subsidiaries of Repsol YPF and Irving Oil Limited. 

In February, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorized Maritimes to construct and operate the pipeline infrastructure necessary for the Phase IV Project.  When the expansion is completed, the year-round mainline design capacity will increase by approximately 400 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) to almost 800 MMcf/d.

Phase IV Project Benefits
The need for additional energy supply continues to increase and the demand for natural gas continues to grow in New England and the Northeastern United States.  

The availability of new volumes of natural gas will provide the region with greater energy security as well as additional competition and supply diversity.  The Phase IV Project will benefit the region by:

In addition, the Phase IV Project will stimulate local economies through construction and related activities, with the creation of a temporary workforce of several hundred people and with contractors utilizing the services of local businesses.

Phase IV Project Facilities

The Phase IV Project will transport re-gasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canaport™ LNG on the existing pipeline system via an interconnection with the Brunswick Pipeline which is to be constructed from the Canaport™ LNG terminal in Saint John, New Brunswick to the U.S. – Canada border. 

To accommodate new volumes of natural gas, Maritimes will construct and operate:

Modifications will be required at the existing compressor stations in Baileyville and Richmond, Maine and to existing meter stations in Baileyville, Maine and Dracut, Massachusetts. 

Compressor stations are necessary to maintain the pressure and velocity of natural gas as it travels long distances through the pipeline.   Strategically located along the route, compressor stations pull the natural gas from the upstream pipeline and push it out to the downstream pipeline under higher pressure and greater speed. 

Currently, Maritimes has compressor stations in Baileyville and in Richmond, Maine.  The locations of the new compressor stations were determined based on a comprehensive review of system design studies, environmental and resource analyses, and evaluations of impacts to neighbors and communities.  

Click here to view a map of the facilities Maritimes is proposing in the United States

Construction Schedule

Construction on the new facilities is under way. Last year, Maritimes began building the new compressor stations in Searsmont, Brewer and Eliot. This year, construction has begun on the new compressor stations in Woodchopping Ridge and Westbrook, and on the pipeline loop in Baileyville.

Maritimes selected several highly qualified contractors to undertake the construction of this important energy project. All contractors were encouraged by Maritimes and they have utilized various Maine businesses for subcontracting, supplies and services.

J.L. Allen Co. is responsible for the facilities in Searsmont, Eliot, Westbrook and Baileyville. Bluewater Constructors, Inc. is building the facilities in Brewer and Ranger Plant Constructional Company, Inc. the facilities in Woodchopping Ridge. Cianbro Corporation completed the modifications to the existing compressor station in Richmond, Maine.

The Phase IV facilities will be completed later this year and the project is expected to begin operations in November.

Working with Our Neighbors

During construction of the Phase IV Project, Maritimes will make every effort to minimize the impacts that occur when a major infrastructure project is built.  We will continue to work with neighbors and communities to respond to their concerns. 

To resolve construction-related issues in the most responsive manner, we have established a 24-Hour Landowner Hotline.  The process was implemented during our initial construction in 1999 and has been very effective in resolving matters. 

The Maritimes 24-Hour Landowner Hotline may be reached toll-free at 1-800-738-4880.  A Maritimes representative will respond to your call as soon as practicable, but, in any event, within 48 hours of your call. 

Project Review

To install, construct, own, operate and maintain the Phase IV Project, Maritimes had to receive approval from FERC, the federal agency that authorizes the interstate transmission of natural gas.  In October of 2005, Maritimes began participating in the FERC Pre-Filing Process to encourage and facilitate early participation by all persons and organizations interested in the project.

In May of 2006, Maritimes submitted its application for the Phase IV Project to FERC and to amend its existing Presidential Permit to construct and operate the Phase IV facilities necessary to import the increased volumes of natural gas from Canada.

During the pre-application and post-application periods, FERC conducted a thorough review of the project, evaluating the need for expansion facilities, the locations for the proposed compressor stations and pipeline looping, and the environmental impact of the expansion.

In issuing a certificate, FERC concluded that the project will bring new supplies of natural gas to the region with minimal impact to landowners, communities and the environment.

In addition to its FERC certificate, Maritimes received permits and approvals from numerous other federal and state agencies, including, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Phase IV Project Information 
                                             
Informational copies of Maritimes Phase IV Project application were distributed to municipal and county offices and public libraries in communities with proposed facilities. A list of those repositories is available here.

In addition, FERC maintains an eLibrary with all information submitted and issued on the Phase IV Project, including the application. To access the eLibrary, go to the eLibrary link at the FERC web site. In General Search, enter the Phase IV Project Docket Number: CP06-335.

Petition for Waiver to Increase the Operating Pressure

Maritimes’ entire pipeline system was designed and constructed to ensure that the pipeline not only met, but exceeded, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (“DOT”) pipeline safety regulations. Recently, Maritimes conducted an evaluation of its pipeline in the United States and determined that the system is able to operate safely and reliably at a higher pressure.

In 2005, Maritimes submitted to the DOT a Petition for Waiver to Increase the Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (“Petition”) on approximately 203 miles of mainline that is solely owned by Maritimes between Baileyville and Westbrook, Maine. In March, Maritimes filed a Supplemental Petition for Waiver to Increase the Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (“Supplemental Petition”) on its Joint Facilities, approximately 100 miles of 30-inch diameter mainline between Westbrook, Maine and Dracut, Massachusetts, jointly owned by Maritimes and Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (“PNGTS”).

Both petitions outlined the rationale and technical criteria that support safely increasing the operating pressure by an additional 160 pounds per square inch gauge (“psig”) from the current operating pressure of 1440 psig to 1600 psig. This increase could allow greater volumes of natural gas to be transported through the Maritimes system.

DOT performed a thorough technical review of Maritimes’ applications and granted the Petition for Waiver on July 5, 2006.  The announcement was issued in the July 11, 2006 Federal Register.