Published: October 15, 2008 04:33 pm      

Construction on natural gas pipeline in full force

MORTON — A process that began more than two years ago can now be seen in physical form.

Rockies Express Pipeline, a development of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P., Sempra Pipelines & Storage, and ConocoPhillips, initiated federal review of the eastern expansion of its natural gas pipeline in June 2006. With two segments stretching from Colorado to Missouri now finished, this eastern expansion will span from Missouri through Indiana to the eastern edge of Ohio.

Once complete, the 1,679-mile pipeline is expected to transport 1.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to the Midwest and eastern United States.

“It’s a major project by any pipeline construction standard,” said Dean Eaton, Kinder Morgan representative.

The 638 miles comprising the eastern portion of the REX project includes a 17.3-mile pass through Hendricks County. It starts just north of U.S. 36 on the western side and snakes south past Clayton before entering Morgan County west of Mooresville.

Construction in Indiana began in August after REX cleared its regulatory review with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state and local agencies. On Tuesday the consortium offered a construction tour of the pipeline in Putnam County. The project is being managed from a site in Cloverdale near the Interstate 70 exit.

Workers could be seen pulling sections of the pipe together using an automated system that internally welded the pieces together. Then a welding shack is placed on each link, where workers go inside and weld the pipe on its outside.

Eaton says employees are averaging about 70 welds per day since construction started. About 400 workers are being used on each section of the REX east project, with six sections total in both Indiana and Illinois.

Allen Fore, REX public affairs manager, says the company is using local union workers whenever possible. Specialized laborers also have been brought to the area.

“It’s good either way,” Fore said. “If we’re using locals, we’re providing jobs. If we’re bringing workers in, they’re staying here, eating here, spending their money here.”

Pipe also is being assembled in Hendricks County currently, while the rest of the path through Indiana is being graded and cleared. REX had to secure 103 pieces of land in Hendricks for the project. Last spring the company agreed to agricultural mitigation with FERC and the Indiana Farm Bureau.

Among the provisions reached are that the pipeline must be buried a minimum of five feet where it crosses agricultural fields. REX also must repair for life any damaged drainage tiles. Eminent domain powers are being restricted too. REX can’t use it to increase the pipeline’s size for future needs or acquire any right-of-way to transport anything other than natural gas.

REX also must establish a five-year monitoring program following the pipeline’s completion to address any agricultural problems stemming from the construction.

One lawsuit filed last March on behalf of Danville property owner David McCarroll over the discovery of an Indiana bat habitat on his land threatened to delay the project and alter its route.

Fore says any concerns over the pipeline have now been assuaged.

“Everybody’s pretty much got it now,” he said. “The route is known, as is its intended purpose. All that’s left is the actual construction.”

Fore expects much of the REX East construction to be complete by the end of the year. Restoration of the land will likely last into 2009. Officials hope to have the pipeline operational to Putnam County by April 1 and all of it online by November of next year.

While plans had it extending to eastern Ohio only, REX is now considering expanding it to New Jersey. With U.S. demand for natural gas predicted to increase more than 50 percent by 2020, this pipeline, at a privately-financed cost of more than $5 billion, is expected to be a major advancement in U.S. energy infrastructure.

“This is the biggest natural gas pipeline in North America, and it’s real,” said Fore while tapping a section of the pipe. “Every political candidate is talking about energy, and natural gas is a big part of it.”

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Online:

www.rexpipeline.com



wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com