Wyoming Interstate Co. LLC asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for authorization to modernize a compressor station at the Cheyenne Hub in Colorado to increase natural gas transportation capacity by 222,000 Dth/d, part of a larger effort by several pipeline companies to expand the complex near the DJ Basin.
The Kinder Morgan Inc. company on March 15 filed the request under a blanket certificate. Through the expansion project, Wyoming Interstate plans to increase horsepower at its WIC Cheyenne compressor station in Weld County, Colo., and to increase the gas volumes to delivery points at the Cheyenne hub.
The WIC Cheyenne compressor station expansion is expected to cost approximately $2.2 million and has a targeted in-service date of October. The compressor station, currently used as a spare unit, would be reclassified for use in day-to-day mainline transportation service with a 2,700-horsepower compressor unit. The project would also install up to 900 feet of 36-inch-diameter plant yard piping and other equipment.
The additional gas would come from an interconnection with Colorado Interstate Gas Co. LLC. In response to increasing demand for gas, Colorado Interstate entered into a transportation service agreement for the project's entire additional transportation capacity, allowing it to provide service on its High Plains system into the Cheyenne Hub high pressure pool. Both Colorado Interstate and Wyoming Interstate are Kinder Morgan subsidiaries.
Wyoming Interstate currently transports up to 671,000 Dth/d from the interconnection with Colorado Interstate. Colorado Interstate agreed to reimburse Wyoming Interstate for the cost of the project. (FERC docket CP18-117)
The Cheyenne hub complex is owned and operated by Wyoming Interstate, Colorado Interstate and Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Co. LLC. Colorado Interstate filed its own application with FERC on Feb. 27 that asked for authorization to modify compressor stations on its system for additional firm gas transportation service to the hub.
Rockies Express Pipeline LLC has also filed an application with FERC, hoping to add about 1 Bcf/d of capacity at the Cheyenne hub to move more gas produced in Colorado's DJ Basin to the interstate pipeline system.