Project Summary
To address our nation’s growing demand for natural gas and associated transportation
infrastructure, El Paso Corporation along with partner Pacific Energy Pipeline
Ruby, Inc., a wholly owned company of PG&E Corporation, and Bear Energy LP are
proposing the construction of the Ruby Pipeline.
The Ruby Pipeline is a win-win project for natural gas consumers and producers.
The project represents an approximate $2 billion dollar investment in new pipeline
infrastructure that will connect clean-burning and competitively priced natural gas
reserves in the Rocky Mountain region with growing markets in the western
United States.
As proposed, the project is expected
to include approximately 680 miles
of 42-inch natural gas transmission
pipeline beginning at the Opal Hub
in Wyoming and terminating at a
Malin, Oregon interconnect, near
California's northern border. The
Ruby Pipeline will have an initial
capacity of 1.2 billion cubic feet per
day (Bcf/d) with the flexibility to
increase that capacity to 2 Bcf/d.
As proposed, the pipeline rights of
way will cross a portion of four states: Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Two compressor stations
are currently proposed for the project: one near the Opal Hub and one expected to be near the mid-point of
the project. Based on market demand, additional compressor stations could be added.
El Paso Corporation is committed to being the neighbor to have in every community where we operate. As
part of that vision, an environmental audit was conducted in association with the Ruby Pipeline project. The
audit identified several key areas for attention: big game winter ranges, calving areas, and river crossings, as
well as a number of federally listed protected species. Additionally, we will conduct surveys along the proposed
route, including an archeological/cultural resource survey to identify important historic sites, as well as biological
and civil surveys. This information will then be analyzed, and where needed, appropriate changes will be made
to the route. Additionally, since safe and reliable operations are among our highest priorities, we plan to seek
stakeholder and community input throughout the project’s life cycle.
Once the project is thoroughly reviewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in cooperation with
state and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, a
certificate of public convenience and necessity can be granted and construction could begin in the first
half of 2010 with the estimated in-service date targeted for the first quarter of 2011.
El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient, and dependable
manner. The company owns North America’s largest interstate natural gas pipeline system and one of North
America’s largest independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit www.elpaso.com.
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