TransCanada Gains FERC OK to Construct Leach Xpress, Rayne XPress Projects

TransCanada received word the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order approving the construction of the Leach XPress and Rayne XPress projects. The combined $1.8 billion investments will provide additional outlets to transport natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica areas to the Midwest and Gulf Coast markets.
The issuing of the certificates of public convenience and necessity follows the September release of FERC’s final environmental impact statement for the projects. Once remaining regulatory approvals are obtained, TransCanada plans to begin right-of-way preparation and construction activities on both projects in February, and is reviewing the projects” overall timeline in an effort to maintain its Nov 1 in-service date.
“Approval of Leach XPress and Rayne XPress follows a very thorough review by the FERC,” said Stan Chapman, TransCanada’s senior vice-president and general manager, U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines. “These projects will create critically needed connectivity between the prolific, but constrained, Marcellus and Utica shale production areas and higher value markets. The projects will also create significant new jobs and tax revenues for communities along the projects’ routes.”
The $1.4 billion investment in Leach XPress will enable the safe transport of atransport of 1.5 Bcf/d of natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica supply basin along the 160-mile greenfield project, which crosses the northern panhandle of West Virginia and then traverses southeastern Ohio.
Rayne XPress primarily involves the construction of two new compressor stations along TransCanada’s existing Columbia Gulf system and is designed to create an additional 1 Bcf/d of capacity to allow transport Marcellus to markets in the Gulf Coast region and beyond.
Both projects are underpinned by long-term, fixed-fee, firm transportation service agreements.
Related News
Related News

- Enbridge Plans 86-Mile Pipeline Expansion, Bringing 850 Workers to Northern B.C.
- Intensity, Rainbow Energy to Build 344-Mile Gas Pipeline Across North Dakota
- U.S. Moves to Block Enterprise Products’ Exports to China Over Security Risk
- 208-Mile Mississippi-to-Alabama Gas Pipeline Moves Into FERC Review
- Court Ruling Allows MVP’s $500 Million Southgate Pipeline Extension to Proceed
- U.S. Pipeline Expansion to Add 99 Bcf/d, Mostly for LNG Export, Report Finds
- A Systematic Approach To Ensuring Pipeline Integrity
- 275-Mile Texas-to-Oklahoma Gas Pipeline Enters Open Season
- LNG Canada Start-Up Fails to Lift Gas Prices Amid Supply Glut
- Kinder Morgan Gas Volumes Climb as Power, LNG Demand Boost Pipeline Business
Comments