SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Port Arthur Pipeline, L.P., a subsidiary of Sempra Pipelines & Storage and Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) today launched an open season to solicit market interest in capacity on its proposed Port Arthur Pipeline project.
Port Arthur Pipeline, L.P. plans to build the project to interconnect the area of eastern Texas and southern Louisiana, where several liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals are in development, to interstate pipeline systems in Louisiana. Based on the results of the open season, Port Arthur Pipeline may consider expanding its design or extending as far east as the Columbia Gulf mainline.
With its potential interstate and intrastate pipeline interconnections, total interconnection capacity exceeds 5 billion cubic feet (Bcfd) in the area of Transco Compressor Station #45 and exceeds 10 Bcfd per day, if extended to the Columbia Gulf mainline. Additionally, the pipeline will have direct access to the Liberty Gas Storage project, also a subsidiary of Sempra Energy. Port Arthur Pipeline is projected to be in service by the 2008-09 winter heating season, to correspond to the proposed LNG terminals in-service dates.
In the open season beginning today, prospective shippers will have an opportunity to indicate their interest for capacity and delivery points on the pipeline. Non-binding requests for service must be submitted no later than April 4, 2005. Results of the open season will be evaluated and potential shippers contacted regarding project specifics by May 16, 2005.
"Because Port Arthur Pipeline is being designed to connect such a large amount of interstate pipeline capacity, shippers using it will get a high level of reliability, flexibility and liquidity," said George Liparidis, president of Sempra Pipelines & Storage.
Potential customers interested in participating in the open season should contact Laurie Fitzmaurice at (619) 696-2698 or visit the company's Web site at www.portarthurpipeline.com.
Sempra Pipelines & Storage acquires, builds and operates natural gas pipelines and storage facilities in Mexico and the United States. The company operates 165 miles of high-pressure natural gas pipelines and is developing another 230-plus miles to connect major natural gas supply sources. In addition, through its Sempra Energy International subsidiary, the company provides natural gas and electricity distribution services to more than 2.8 million customers in Argentina, Chile, Peru and the United States.
Sempra Pipelines & Storage is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego, California, with 13,000 employees, 2003 revenues of $7.9 billion and more than 10 million customers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico and South America.