APPALACHIAN GATEWAY
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WEST VIRGINIA |
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CHARLEROI, PA – As Marcellus Shale gas production has
increased, various companies have begun to install new pipelines to
move the methane and gas liquids out of the tri-state
area near Pittsburgh. FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, approved Dominion Transmission’s Appalachian Gateway Project on June 16, 2011. |
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The new natural gas pipeline
will stretch 109-miles, consisting of 20, 24 and 30-inch diameter
pipeline. The pipeline will carry Marcellus Shale gas from West
Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania to an interconnection with
Texas Eastern in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Dominion’s Appalachian Gateway pipeline will cross under the Monongahela River between Carroll and Rostraver townships near Charleroi, Pa. Excavation of an underwater trench beneath the Mon River for the concrete-lined pipe was delayed in late-2011 by high water. More construction photos of the Appalachian Gateway pipeline can be found further down this page. Photo: Pipeline approaching the Monongahela River crossing. |
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New pipelines:
New West Virginia compressor stations:
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EXCERPTS FROM
FERC DOCUMENT Docket No. CP10-448-000 Complete document: On June 1, 2010, Dominion Transmission, Inc. (Dominion) filed an application under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to construct, operate, and maintain natural gas pipeline and compression facilities in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. As part of its proposed Appalachian Gateway Project, Dominion seeks authorization to construct 109 miles of pipeline, to add four new compressor stations, and to upgrade two existing compressor stations. Dominion also seeks approval to integrate its existing TL-263 Expansion Project facilities with these new facilities and to charge incremental rates for firm service on the new and existing facilities. The proposed project will enable Dominion to transport 484,260 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) from supply areas in West Virginia and Pennsylvania to an interconnection with Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Dominion proposes to construct and operate the following pipeline segments: (1) TL-570 Ext. 1 - 4.9 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline in Kanawha County, West Virginia, looping an existing Dominion line; (2) TL-492 Ext. 5 - 6 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipe in Greene County, Pennsylvania, also looping an existing Dominion pipeline; (3) TL-590 - 42.3 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Marshall County, West Virginia, and in Greene County, Pennsylvania; (4) TL-591 - 54.2 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Greene, Washington, Allegheny, and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania; (5) TL-596 - 0.5 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline in Wetzel County, West Virginia; (6) TL-597 - 0.1 miles of 10-inch-diameter pipeline in Wetzel County, West Virginia; (7) TL-598, 0.3 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline in Harrison County, West Virginia; and (8) TL-599, 0.4 miles of 16-inch-diamter pipeline in Harrison County, West Virginia. Dominion also proposes to construct and operate the following compression facilities: (1) the Burch Ridge Station in Marshall County, West Virginia - a new 6,446 horsepower (hp) facility on the proposed TL-590 pipeline that will compress gas and enable it to flow back into Dominion’s existing TL-377 pipeline; (2) the Chelyan Station in Kanawha County, West Virginia - a new 4,735 hp facility at a former compressor station site; (3) the Morrison Junction Station in Harrison County, West Virginia - a new 1,775 hp facility to send gathered gas into Dominion’s existing TL-283 pipeline; (4) the Lewis Wetzel Station in Wetzel County, West Virginia - a new 3,550 hp facility to receive gas from Dominion’s existing TL-283 pipeline and send it into its existing TL-430 pipeline; (5) the Schutte Station in Doddridge County, West Virginia - an existing facility to be upgraded by recylindering an existing unit; and (6) the Pepper Station in Barbour County, West Virginia - a new 1,775 hp transmission compressor unit at an existing gathering compressor station. Alpha Companies
do not oppose the proposed project, but raise concerns which they
state will be satisfied if the Commission requires Dominion to
implement mitigation and monitoring measures to ensure that the
proposed pipeline will not significantly conflict with, or be
affected by, past, present, or future subsurface mining activities.
Protesting parties raise similar concerns. |
The
Appalachian Gateway Project also includes four new compressor
stations producing a total of about 17,000 horsepower. Work began on
this project in 2011 with completion set for September 2012.
 Pipeline work next to Route 837 near Charleroi, Pa |
 Looking northeast toward the Monongahela River. The pipeline will pass under the river between Donora and Monongahela, Pa |
 Seams on these pipelines are X-Rayed |
 Looking southwest as the new pipeline excavation follows an existing electric right of way |
 Pipe markings |
 Pipeline raised up on wood cribbing |
 Pipeline close to where it goes under Route 837 |
 Trenching for pipeline along this section is complete |
 Close-up of new gas pipeline sections below Route 837 |
| MONONGAHELA RIVER CROSSING |
 Pipeline excavation next to the Monongahela River on the Rostraver side of the river along Route 136 |
 Holding pit of some sort near the river bank |
 WARNING DO NOT ANCHOR OR DREDGE GAS PIPELINE CROSSING |
 Access road sign along right of way |
 Dredging barge |
 Dredging equipment |
 Clam shell bucket for opening trench in river bottom |
| AERIAL PHOTOS OF PROJECT |
 Pipeline excavation near Charleroi, Pa |
 Pipeline on the southwest side of Route 837 |
 Pipeline crossing under Route 88 |
 Charleroi Cougars football stadium |
 Pipeline continuing toward Greene County, Pa |
 Another section of pipeline in the West Virginia panhandle |
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| LINKS Gas pipelines Pipeline maps New! Gas gathering pipelines How safe are America’s 2.5 million miles of pipelines? Aerial photos of Marcellus drilling in West Virginia |
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