The 2010 Expansion Project increased the amount of natural gas transported on the Kern River Gas Transmission Company system by approximately 145,000 dekatherms or approximately 145 million cubic feet per day. With its completion, the Kern River system's design capacity increased to 1.9 billion cubic feet per day.
New Facilities
The Kern River 2010 Expansion Project consisted of primarily aboveground facilities. The company did not add any new mainline pipelines as part of the expansion. The expansion's aboveground work included installing additional compression and modifications at existing stations. Kern River confined its expansion activities at the two existing compressor stations in Wyoming to the areas within the fenced facilities. The project also included the installation of additional measurement equipment at existing meter stations in Wyoming and California. Kern River installed additional cathodic test posts on the right of way in highly populated areas for monitoring purposes.
Kern River sought approval from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, to increase its pipeline operating pressure. By increasing the maximum allowable operating pressure of its system, Kern River can safely transport additional natural gas through existing facilities, minimizing disruption and impact to the environment, landowners and neighbors near the pipeline right of way. The expansion increased the existing MAOP on the pipeline from 1,200 pounds per square inch to 1,333 psi, and at the compressor and meter stations from 1,250 psi to 1,350 psi.
Economic Benefits
- Efficiently transport an additional 145 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to customers.
- Provide much needed take-away capacity for the developing natural gas supplies in the Rocky Mountain producing areas.
Project Timeline
- June 2008 - Submitted Section 7(c) application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- June 2009 - Received FERC certificate
- July 2009 - Received FERC Notice to Proceed
- Summer 2009 - Began construction at Muddy Creek compressor station and other facilities
- April 2010 - Placed facilities into service
About Us
Kern River Gas Transmission Company owns and operates a 1,680-mile interstate natural gas pipeline between southwestern Wyoming and Southern California. With headquarters in Salt Lake City, Kern River currently delivers 1.9 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to expanding markets in Utah, Nevada, California and Arizona. Kern River is a subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, based in Des Moines, Iowa, is a global provider of energy services. Through its energy-related business platforms, MidAmerican provides electric and natural gas service to more than 6.9 million customers worldwide. These business platforms are Pacific Power, Rocky Mountain Power and PacifiCorp Energy, which comprise PacifiCorp; MidAmerican Energy Company; CE Electric UK; Northern Natural Gas Company; Kern River Gas Transmission Company; and CalEnergy. Information about MidAmerican is available at www.midamerican.com.