Responding to the Need for Additional Natural Gas Supplies
Millions of residents in the eastern United States have received
the highest home heating bills of their lives because of high and volatile natural
gas prices. Natural gas continues to be a fuel of choice for residential, industrial
and electric power generator consumers because it is efficient, clean, and reliable.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects the growth of natural gas
use in the United States to continue. However, natural gas production has not
kept pace with demand, and rising natural gas prices reflect the imbalance between
natural gas supply and demand. According to the EIA, natural gas wholesale prices
have more than doubled since 1999.
Project Description
Dominion Keystone is a pipeline project that would transport new natural gas supplies from the Appalachian Basin to markets throughout the eastern United States. The pipeline project is a response to the many Appalachian producers who are seeking reliable natural gas pipeline transmission for increased production from conventional drilling, coalbed methane and Lower Huron Shale, as well as Marcellus Shale.
As part of a drilling rights agreement, Antero Resources will join Dominion Exploration & Production as anchor tenants on Dominion Keystone. Collectively, the two customers are expected to provide about 500 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) to the pipeline, which would allow for transport of up to 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day by year-end 2012.
The proposed pipeline would take natural gas from southwestern Pennsylvania, the heart of Marcellus Shale drilling in the Appalachian Basin, to Chester County, Pa., with connections to pipelines operated by Spectra, Williams and NiSource.
Working with Dominion
Dominion is committed to working with landowners and other stakeholders to understand and address interests and concerns about the project. The company embraces the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America’s efforts for member companies to maintain strong, positive relationships with landowners. Dominion's goal is to develop a project that provides benefits to natural gas customers and the community. We will work with all governing bodies and the local community to ensure they are aware of our project and updated as it progresses. It is our policy to work via the agencies responsible to ensure that our facility is developed and operated to meet or exceed all safety, environmental, regulatory and legal requirements. Land agents representing Dominion will personally contact all property owners along the preferred pipeline route. Landowners along any alternate route will also be contacted as needed.
The land agents will gather important property information
from the owners and will request permission for Dominion to enter the property
to conduct the necessary surveys and studies required for the new pipeline projects.
Learn
about the survey process.
Every representative of Dominion will carry picture identification,
including a toll-free number by which you can verify that person's authority.
Dominion takes pride in our long-standing commitment of working
with landowners and seeking input from them. Throughout the process and following
completion, we remain dedicated to working with communities on their needs and
interests. We are confident that you will see this commitment to property owners
reflected in every contact you have with all company and contract personnel.
Landowners affected by a proposed natural gas pipeline regulated
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have certain rights and Dominion
works whenever possible to facilitate this process. These rights range from
being able to look at project correspondence to becoming an intervener and being
able to appeal any FERC decisions in federal court.
These rights include:
Accessing and inspecting all public documents associated
with the proposed project;
Making your concerns known in writing to the Commission
and its staff;
Participating in informational meetings held in the vicinity
of the proposed project area;
Participating in site visits in the vicinity of the proposed
project area;
Filing comments on draft Environmental Assessments and
Environmental Impact Statements;
Becoming an "intervener" or "party"
on a specific proposed project; and
Having the Commission's decision reviewed in federal court
(you must be an intervener to do this).
To learn more, see "Citizens' Guides" on FERC's
web site at www.ferc.gov
or call 1-866-208-3372.
High consumer bills and continued price volatility demonstrate the need for new supplies of natural gas and more flexible, efficient transportation systems in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.
Dominion pipelines will play an increasingly critical
role in meeting the energy needs of the United States' economy in coming years.
Natural gas is the energy of choice for many Americans, and demand is expected
to grow by at least 20 percent over the next decade. The Keystone Pipeline will help provide greater reliability as it augments current energy supply
sources.
At steel rolling mills where the pipe is fabricated, pipeline
representatives carefully inspect new pipe to assure that it meets industry
and federal government safety standards. For corrosion control, the outside
surface is treated with a protective coating.
The pipeline will require an easement for construction, as
well as for maintenance after construction. The construction area is cleared
and graded, and a trench is dug for the pipeline. Stringing of the lengths of
pipe occurs along the trench. Pipe is bent as needed to follow the natural contour
of the land. Pipe welding is a crucial task and is performed only by welders
who have met specific industry standards and who have proven their qualifications
through programs and hands-on testing. Each weld is examined visually and is
tested with X-ray or ultrasonic equipment to assure its integrity.
All pipe that is not covered by a factory coating receives
a protective coating at the construction site. All coatings are inspected before
the pipe is buried. Once in the ground and before being placed in service, the
pipeline is filled with water and tested to assure its ability to withstand
high pressure. Take a closer look at the pipeline
construction process.
Safeguarding efforts continue when the pipe is installed.
Markers alert the public to the presence of a pipeline, identify pipeline rights-of-way
and provide an emergency phone number.
The safety of our pipeline system is and always has received
high priority, and we at Dominion can boast of a good safety record as a result.
Of course, Dominion's goal is to either comply with or to exceed all the appropriate
safety regulations and standards for the industry. Take a closer look at gas
pipeline safety. (PDF document, requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader)
The two hazards for a pipeline are puncture and corrosion.
Dominion uses pipelines made of only high-strength materials that meet or exceed
the standards of the natural gas industry and federal regulations. Our pipelines
are made resistant to corrosion by cathodic protection. A small electrical current
is run around buried pipe in our system to minimize corrosion of the pipe.
Even though pipelines operate underground and out of sight,
they can be inspected from the inside using modern technology. Dominion uses
"smart pigging" to measure and analyze conditions along the pipeline's
inner and outer walls. The "pig" device travels through the pipelines
and electronically reads and records the slightest change in pipe wall thickness.
These changes can pinpoint potential problems before they become problems.
Throughout the pipeline system, the pressure of the gas in
the pipes is monitored to make sure it remains well within the limits established
by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Sophisticated computer and telecommunications
equipment can detect fluctuations and control flows. Dominion's gas control
centers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and know immediately if the
pressure within a pipeline falls. In the event of such a pressure drop in one
area, the control center acts to stop the gas flow to the problem area by selectively
isolating sections of the pipeline. Inspections can then determine the cause
of the problem and guide repairs.
This constant monitoring and rapid response to change ensures
that the system operates safely and enhances the reliability of our service
to customers.
Dominion also communicates at least annually with persons
living along our pipeline rights-of-way as well as with law enforcement, fire
and government officials in the areas in which we operate facilities.
In addition, we patrol our pipelines in order to detect any
activity that may be taking place along the pipeline. If we spot any un-reported
construction activity, we contact the contractor immediately to assure the safety
of the surroundings of the line.
Right-of-way maintenance will include manual or mechanical
grass mowing and trimming of trees.
Natural gas is a clean-burning fuel, preferred for use in
homes, factories and commercial buildings. It has become a fuel of choice for
electric power generation because it burns cleanly and efficiently.
Dominion works with federal, state and local agencies to design
the pipeline route to assure that the impact on the natural and human environment
is minimized.
Among the federal programs or regulations that will be reviewed
for any project impact and any related compliance are: Endangered Species Act
of 1973, National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Coastal Zone Management
Act of 1972, Clean Water Act (including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System program), Clean Air Act, Archaeological and Historic Act of 1974, Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act, National Wilderness Act, National Parks and Recreation
Act of 1978, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
The project also will be reviewed for potential impacts under
state and local regulatory programs for environmental issues related to streams,
wetlands, threatened and endangered species, air, etc., including programs that
implement the federal programs listed above.
Although the pipeline will be visible during construction,
it will be underground when completed and the area surrounding it will be restored.
The pipe will be buried deeply enough (with at least three feet of cover) and
the land will be appropriately restored for agricultural land to again be used
for that purpose. As with all of our pipeline projects, Dominion will work with
the appropriate regulatory agencies and landowners throughout the construction
process.
