Gator Express Gas Pipeline

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Gator Express Gas Pipeline is a proposed natural gas pipeline connecting existing natural gas pipelines to the proposed Plaquemines LNG Terminal in Southeastern Louisiana.

Location

The proposed pipeline would run from Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company connections and offshore Texas Eastern Transmission pipeline connections to the proposed Plaquemines LNG Terminal in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

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Project Details

Phase I

• Owner: Gator Express Pipeline LLC
• Parent company: Venture Global LNG
• Capacity: 1,970 MMcf/d
• Length: 15 mi
• Diameter: 42 in
• Status: Construction
• Start year: 2023
  • Originally 2022

Phase II

• Owner: Gator Express Pipeline LLC
• Parent company: Venture Global LNG
• Capacity: 1,970 MMcf/d
• Length: 12 mi
• Diameter: 42 in
• Status: Proposed
• Start year: 2023

Background

Venture Global is proposing to construct two 42-inch-diameter pipelines known as the Gator Express Gas Pipeline. The Gator Express will connect to existing interstate pipelines, the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company lines and offshore Texas Eastern Transmission lines. It will deliver natural gas from the pre-existing pipelines to the proposed Plaquemines LNG project site.

The proposed Gator Express facilities will be constructed in two phases (“Phase 1” and “Phase 2”). Phase 1 will include an approximately 15-mile long, 42-inch diameter pipeline and facilities, to deliver gas to the Plaquemines LNG project from new interconnections with Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC and Texas Eastern Transmission, LP located offshore, southwest of the terminal site (the “Southwest Lateral TGP”). In Phase 2, a looped section of approximately 12-mile long, 42-inch diameter pipeline and facilities will be constructed to deliver additional supplies to the terminal from the interconnection with Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (the “Southwest Lateral TETLP”).

Each phase will be designed to deliver approximately 1.9 Bcf/day, and will have a maximum allowable operating pressure of 1,200 pounds per square inch gauge.

In May 2019, Venture Global LNG, Inc. announced that the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had issued the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the company's 20 million tonne per annum (MTPA) Plaquemines LNG facility in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. On August 31, 2018, FERC notified Venture Global LNG that it plans to issue a Final Order for the Plaquemines LNG facility and the associated Gator Express Pipeline no later than August 1, 2019. The project remains on track for a Final Investment Decision and commencement of construction in late 2019 with full commercial operations expected in 2023.

In September of 2019, the project received full Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval. FERC also approved the associated Plaquemines LNG Terminal, which will receive the natural gas from Gator Express.

As of July 2023, Phase I was under construction and Phase II was approved.

Expansion projects

Gator Express Meter Project (Line 40 Connection)

In May 2022, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP proposed the Line 40 Connection Project to construct, own and operate new metering and regulating facilities to be installed on Venture Global’s Gator Express Platform and to interconnect Texas Eastern's Line 40 to the metering and regulating facilities on the Gator Express platform, according to the EIA.

• Operator: Gator Express Pipeline LLC
• Owner: Enbridge (100%)
• Parent company: Enbridge (100%)
• Capacity: 240 Mmcf/day
• Length: 0.2 mi
• Diameter: 30 inches
• Status: Proposed
• Start year: expected 2023
• Cost: US$30.6 million