The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP more time to finish its 1.42-Bcf/d Coastal Bend Header project.

FERC gave Gulf South the extension in a May 18 notice. FERC told the developer to have all project facilities ready for service by June 20, 2019, instead of by the original due date two years earlier. The extension was granted in response to a May 11 request from Gulf South, in which the developer asked for additional time to build a compressor station in Harris County, Texas, and remaining units at a compressor station in Wharton County, Texas.

According to Gulf South, a Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP unit, the remaining facilities are not contractually required by customers for service until Nov. 1. Gulf South requested the extension so it can complete construction and place the facilities in service by the November deadline.

The commission approved the pipeline and other facilities in a June 2016 certificate order, with an amendment to the project in February 2017. The project will consist of a 66-mile, 36-inch-diameter header pipeline in Wharton and Brazoria counties in Texas; new compressor stations in Fort Bend, Wharton and Harris counties in Texas; piping modification to a compressor station in Polk County, Texas; a turbine at a compressor station in Sabine County, Texas; an interconnection; and six new meter and regulating stations at interconnections with interstate and intrastate pipelines.

Part of the project's gas transportation capacity will help support the Freeport LNG Development LP export terminal on Quintana Island in Texas. (FERC docket CP15-517)