LIVONIA, Mich., Sept. 6, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Vector Pipeline L.P. today announced that it will seek authority from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a 2007 expansion of its mainline natural gas transmission pipeline.
"Shipper interest in this proposed expansion was very strong and underpinned by long-term agreements in our recent binding Open Season," said Craig R. Fishbeck, Vector Pipeline president. "We are now proceeding with development of a schedule to construct two additional compressor stations to expand the Vector Pipeline system by approximately 200 MMcf/d, with an in-service date of no later than Nov. 1, 2007. This will take Vector from its current capacity of about 1 Bcf/d to 1.2 Bcf/d. By using compression, Vector still has the potential to further boost capacity economically to 1.5 Bcf/d to meet the growing market interest and needs."
Preliminary engineering and environmental work is underway at the site locations, Fishbeck said. He said Vector plans to initiate the expansion filing process this fall with FERC.
The Vector Pipeline System -- constructed in 2000 -- consists of 348 miles of mainline transmission between the Chicago Hub and the storage complex at Dawn, Ontario. Vector Pipeline L.P.'s system begins in Joliet, Ill., and terminates at the international border at St. Clair, Mich., where it interconnects with the Vector Pipeline Limited Partnership system, which provides service to the Dawn, Ontario, storage facilities. The system has multiple interconnections, which include Alliance, Northern Border, Guardian, ANR, NIPSCO, Crossroads, Consumers Energy, MichCon, DTE Washington 10 Storage, Bluewater Gas Storage and Union Gas. Two power plants also are tied into the Vector system: Crete Energy Ventures and Kinder Morgan-Jackson.
Vector Pipeline L.P. is a joint venture between Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) (TSE:ENB), with a 60 percent interest, and Detroit-based DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE), with a 40 percent interest. Information about Vector is available on the web at www.vector-pipeline.com. Information about Enbridge and DTE Energy is available at www.enbridge.com and www.dteenergy.com respectively.