The
Apex Expansion Project increased the amount of natural gas transported on the
Kern River system by approximately 266 million cubic feet per day.
Kern River Apex
Expansion Project
Key Data
Project Type
Pipeline
expansion
Location
US
Construction Start
October
2010
Completion
2011
Investment
$373m
Owner and Operator
Kern
River Gas Transmission Company
Pipeline Engineer
Universal Ensco
The Apex
Expansion Project included the construction of 28 miles of 38in pipeline called
the Wasatch Loop and other facilities in the Kern River interstate pipeline
system. Owned and operated by Kern River Gas Transmission Company, the Kern
River pipeline has been operational since 1992.
The
$373m expansion increased the natural gas transmission capacity of the pipeline
system by 266mmcf/d.
The Apex
expansion was proposed in November 2009. Following an extensive environmental
review, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project in
September 2010. Construction was completed in 2011 and the pipeline was placed
into service in October 2011.
The Kern
River system transports 2.14bcf of natural gas per day. It helps meet the
increasing demand for natural gas in the region and improves the service
reliability of Kern River's gas transmission system.
Pipeline
route
The Kern
River's pipeline system is looped from Wyoming to regions in Las Vegas and to
San Bernardino in California. This provides a two-pipeline delivery system
increasing transmission capacity.
The
pipeline network passing through the Wasatch Mountains, however, is not looped
limiting transmission capacity. The Wasatch Loop built as part of the Apex
expansion has eliminated this bottleneck by passing through the Wasatch
Mountains in the Morgan, Davis and Salt Lake counties of Utah.
Construction and infrastructure
In
addition to the Wasatch Loop, a new compressor station was constructed at
Milford in Beaver County, Utah. The compressor station features a turbine-driven
compressor and other ancillary equipment.
The
compression capacity of the compressor stations at Coyote Creek, Wyoming,
Elberta, Utah and Dry Lake, Nevada, has been boosted. The Fillmore compressor
station in Utah was upgraded with the installation of a new compressor, six
mainline valves, three pig launchers and two pig receiver facilities.
Construction of the Wasatch Loop involved remote and difficult terrain.
Approximately five miles of pipeline route consist of extremely steep terrain.
The project included 20 creek crossings and 18 steep hill sections. Two
horizontal directional drills and nine road bores were required.
A
special retaining wall was built along with a speciality backfill when the
pipeline passed over the Wasatch Fault. Certain areas of the pipeline route
required helicopter delivery of workers, construction materials and fuel.
The
pipeline's construction was carried out in a 100ft-wide right of way. The
pipeline was buried at a minimum depth of 3ft. All construction works such as
clearing, digging, storage of subsoil and topsoil were done on the right of way.
Stages
"The
Apex expansion was proposed in November 2009."
The Apex
Expansion Project was carried out in two phases. The first phase began in
October 2010 and consisted of clearing, grading, removal of trees, bushes and
other debris.
The east
end of the pipeline in Morgan county and the west end of the pipeline in Salt
Lake county were installed during phase I. Work on the compressor stations in
Utah and Nevada was also carried out.
Most of
the pipeline construction work was carried out during the second phase, which
began in 2011. Works on the compressor stations in Utah and Wyoming were also
carried out during this phase.
Contractors
The
Wasatch Loop was engineered by Universal Ensco and built by Barnard Pipeline.
In
September 2009, Gulf Interstate Engineering Company won a detailed engineering
contract for the Milford compressor station and existing compression facilities
of the project.
In
August 2008, Kern River Gas Transmission Company signed a contract with NV
Energy for long-term transportation of gas. As part of the contract NV Energy
will receive 390mmcf/d of gas from the Kern River system. The agreement ensures
that the increased capacity resulting from the Apex project is fully subscribed.
Apex
Expansion
The
Apex Expansion Project increased the amount of natural gas transported on the
Kern River system by approximately 266 million cubic feet per day.
The project included the installation of approximately 28 miles of new 36-inch
diameter pipeline through the Wasatch Mountains in Morgan, Davis and Salt Lake
counties of northern Utah; the addition of 78,000 incremental horsepower of
compression at one new and three existing compressor stations; and replacement
of a compressor unit at one existing station. Kern River made every effort to
minimize construction impacts on the environment and landowners along the rights
of way, and worked closely with local municipalities and state agencies to
ensure the project reflected the communities interests and needs.
Installed additional pipeline
§
Approximately 28 miles of 36-inch pipeline (Wasatch Loop) Morgan, Davis and
Salt Lake counties, Utah
Constructed a new compressor station
§
Milford compressor station Beaver County, Utah
Installed additional compression
§
Coyote Creek compressor station Uinta County, Wyoming
§
Elberta compressor station Utah County, Utah
§
Dry Lake compressor station Clark County, Nevada
Replaced a compressor unit
§
Fillmore compressor station Millard County, Utah
Project Timeline
February 27, 2009 Submitted Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pre-filing
request
March 24-26, 2009 Kern River held open houses
June 9-10, 2009 FERC held public scoping meetings
November 2, 2009 Submitted FERC Section 7(c) application
March 26, 2010 FERC issued Draft Environmental Impact Statement
March 26-May 17, 2010 FERC public comment period on DEIS
April 27-28, 2010 FERC held public comment meetings on DEIS
September 16, 2010 FERC issued Section 7(c) certificate
Fall 2010-Fall 2011 Construction activities
October 1, 2011 Placed facilities into service
2012-2014 Completed supplemental restoration; ongoing monitoring of
restoration success