Pipelines

Western Lateral

The Western Lateral will be a 24-inch diameter steel natural gas pipeline that will begin at the LNG Terminal and run west under the Taunton River (for approximately 2,200 feet) to Somerset, on the north side of the Somerset Station Power Plant. The pipeline will run on the south side of Annette Avenue up to Riverside Drive, turn south and run down Riverside Avenue for about 600 feet; then turn west and run through Somerset Power/National Grid property to County Street (Rte 138).

The pipeline will cross County Street on the north side of the existing power line right-of-way (ROW). The current plan is to run within Clifford M. Holland Road to Prospect Street, then turn and run south, down Prospect Street to the power line ROW. The pipeline will leave Prospect Street heading west and run along the northern edge of the existing power line ROW, crossing into the Town of Swansea after about 700 feet.

In Swansea, the pipeline will stay along the edge of the power line ROW. It will then loop back into Somerset, crossing Brayton Avenue and running adjacent to and within the power line ROW for about 1,500 feet before crossing Hot & Cold Lane in Somerset.

The pipeline will continue west for about 300 feet and then turn north back into the Town of Swansea, following the existing power line ROW for about 1,500 feet. It will then turn west again, leave the power line, and head towards the existing Algonquin Gas Transmission Company ROW (about 1,850 feet) to a proposed meter station and interconnection with Algonquin Gas.

The length of the Western Lateral is approximately 2.55 miles. The following table summarizes the distribution of mileage:

Western Lateral Pipeline - update

Northern Lateral Pipeline

The Northern Lateral will also be a 24-inch diameter steel natural gas pipeline. It is planned to run north, mostly within or adjacent to an existing Shell Oil Company pipeline and road Right-of-Way ("ROW") in Fall River and Freetown. The Northern Lateral would replace one of the existing Shell Oil pipelines, which will be removed. Both existing Shell lines (6-inch and 20–inch diameter) run parallel to the existing CSX railroad. At the north end of the lateral, the new pipeline will tie into an existing Algonquin Gas Transmission Company pipeline at the southern end of the Riverside Industrial Park in Freetown.

The length of the Northern Lateral is approximately 3.54 miles, most of which will follow the existing Shell pipeline. See the following table for the approximate distribution of mileage:

Northern Lateral Pipeline - update

Depth of cover over both pipelines will be three feet, except when crossing the Taunton River, railroad, or roads and utilities. For those crossings, the depth of cover will be greater. Both pipelines will be designed according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline Safety Regulations (49 CFR Part 192).
There will be a construction workforce of approximately 150 needed to build both pipelines and associated gas metering facilities. Specialized inspection teams will oversee all pipeline construction, environmental permit compliance and testing. All construction workers will undergo environmental training before working on any location of the pipelines. Gas pipelines have been demonstrated to be the safest form of energy transportation (see the USDOT website for safety statistics at www.phmsa.dot.gov). 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates interstate gas pipelines (see the FERC website at www.ferc.gov for information related to the FERC approval process, as well as information related to individual projects; the Weaver's Cove Energy docket number is CP04-36). A FERC Certificate of Approval for the original Onshore Project was issued in 2005. The alternate Offshore Berth Project is currently undergoing FERC review. The Offshore Berth Project will not result in any changes to the original Lateral Pipeline plans and specifications. The following are necessary steps prior to operation:

• Prepare construction documents that include the conditions of the FERC certificate and environmental permits.
• Employ trained inspection and supervision personnel to oversee pipeline construction and ensure compliance with permits, requirements and specifications.
• Conduct Environmental Training of construction personnel for environmental compliance and quality assurance.
• Acquire land rights (easements) for the pipeline ROW from landowners through a negotiation process, or if the landowner will not negotiate reasonably, easement rights will be obtained through the use of eminent domain. 
• Contract with specialized pipeline construction firms.
• Purchase pipe, valves, etc.
• Delineate the construction ROW.
• Delineate archaeological protected areas. 
• Clear the ROW of trees and obstructions, and grade as necessary. 
• Excavate a trench for the pipeline. 
• String the pipe and bend the pipe where required. 
• Weld, X-ray and coat the pipeline welds with cathodic protective materials. 
• Install pipeline into ditch. 
• Install Cathodic Protection and Electrical Mitigation systems where required. 
• Concurrent to the above activities, separate construction crews will be installing pipe at road crossings, major rivers and the above ground facilities at the beginning and end of the pipeline laterals. 
• Backfill pipeline and cleanup the ROW. 
• Re-grade, seed, and restore the ROW.

Work will also be taking place concurrently at the connection between the pipelines and the Algonquin transmission lines:

• Pig Launchers and Receivers – equipment used to inspect the pipelines for damage during their lifetime.
• Meter and Regulator Stations – to measure and control the natural gas as it enters the transmission lines. 
• Ensure that all permit requirements have been met. 
• Complete an "as–built" survey of the entire pipeline systems, install pipeline markers. 
• Commission the pipeline.

Below is a simple illustration of how a pipeline is constructed: