Nexus Gas Transmission LLC, a joint venture of Enbridge Inc. and DTE Energy Co., received federal authorization to put a big part of its 1.5-Bcf/d natural gas pipeline into service, opening a major outlet for the Marcellus and Utica shales.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff issued the authorization Oct. 10, granting a request Nexus filed in September.

The facilities that will go into service will allow Nexus to provide 966.8 MMcf/d of gas transportation service, almost two-thirds of the entire project's design capacity. "We are pleased to reach this critical milestone and begin providing a much-needed source of energy to Ohio, Michigan and Ontario," project spokesman Adam Parker said Oct. 10.

Parker said the estimated in-service date for the project had been the end of the third quarter, and the estimated CapEx is $2.6 billion.

The authorization covers 256.6 miles of 36-inch-diameter greenfield mainline pipeline, the Hanoverton compressor station, and metering and regulating facilities in Ohio and Michigan. The Hanoverton station is one of four compressor stations on the project. FERC staff said Nexus has stabilized areas disturbed by construction and should complete restoration by Oct. 31.

In August, FERC staff had allowed Enbridge's Texas Eastern Transmission LP to begin partial service on Ohio gas transportation facilities, part of the Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease project that connects to the Nexus pipeline.

The Nexus pipeline, which runs across Ohio and into Michigan and connects with other pipelines, would provide gas transportation service to eastern Canadian and Midwestern gas utilities, Marcellus and Utica shale producers, and other customers. Parker said in late August that the project was drawing interest from other customers. Nexus is considering expansion projects.

FERC issued a certificate order approving the Nexus pipeline and Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease project in August 2017. (FERC docket CP16-22)