FERC Approves Seven Projects Before No-Quorum Period

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) certified seven projects at the start of the month in anticipation of entering into a no-quorum period, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). These projects have a total capacity of more than 7 Bcfd (0.19 X 10⁹ m³/d) and include more than 1500 miles (2414 km) in natural gas pipeline construction and expansion.

The seven projects include two large capacity operations – the Rover Pipeline Project (and related projects), which will move natural gas out of the Utica shale play, and the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project, which will move natural gas out of the Marcellus shale play.

Other recently certified pipeline projects include the Orion Project, Transco to Charleston Project, Rayne and Leach Xpress, Northern Access, and Northern Lights 2017 Expansion, according to the EIA.

Future approvals, however, could be delayed during the no-quorum period. As of Feb. 15, 34 projects had FERC applications in process, while 20 additional projects had already submitted FERC pre-filings, according to data from PointLogic Energy. These projects might require quorum approval to proceed, the EIA said.