May 27, 2014 - The Roanoke Times

Natural gas pipeline through 5 Virginia counties is considered

The 450-mile-long pipeline, now at an “extremely preliminary” stage, would connect three states.

Posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 11:42 pm

By Peter Bacque | Richmond Times-Dispatch

RICHMOND — Dominion Resources Inc. is considering building an approximately 450-mile-long natural gas transmission pipeline from West Virginia through Virginia to southern North Carolina that would go into service by the end of 2018.

The project is in the “extremely preliminary” stage, company spokesman Jim Norvelle said. “We have not decided to do this.”

The new pipeline, called the Dominion Southeast Reliability Project, would extend from the natural-gas rich Marcellus and Utica shale production regions in the Appalachians to markets in Virginia and North Carolina, according to a statement from Thomas Farrell, Dominion Resources’ chairman, president and CEO.

“We think there’s interest in getting natural gas from the Appalachian Basin into Virginia and North Carolina,” Norvelle said Tuesday.

Such a pipeline could cost as much as $2 billion to build, based on current construction prices for large U.S. gas pipelines.

As envisaged, the pipeline would run along a corridor from an interconnection with a Dominion Transmission pipeline in Harrison County, W.Va., through Virginia to Greensville County and on to Lumberton, N.C.

The pipeline would enter the state in Highland County in Western Virginia and run in a southeasterly direction through Nelson, Buckingham, Dinwiddie and Brunswick counties where it turns southward toward North Carolina.

The proposal features a 70-mile spur line in Greensville County to Hampton Roads, and a short connection to the 1,358-megawatt, natural-gas fueled Brunswick Power Station near Lawrenceville in Brunswick County. In North Carolina, spurs would run to the Raleigh and Fayetteville areas.

While the company has not identified a specific route for the proposed line, “we have begun notifying landowners we’ll be on their property as early as this summer to begin surveying for the best possible route,” Norvelle said. “Just because we’re surveying doesn’t mean your property has been selected for the route.”

Dominion Transmission Inc., the Dominion Resources’ interstate gas transmission and storage subsidiary, anticipates building the pipeline during 2017-18 and putting it into service as early as the end of 2018.

According to the Dominion Resources’ annual meeting presentation May 7, the recent, unusually cold winter highlighted need for southeastern gas infrastructure, with the proposed pipeline project giving customers access to additional supply basins.

May 28, 2014 - The Charleston Gazette - AP

Dominion proposes gas pipeline from W.Va. to NC

RICHMOND, Va. – Dominion Resources Inc. has proposed building a 450-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from the Appalachian Basin to markets in Virginia and North Carolina.

The proposed Dominion Southeast Reliability Project would run from an interconnection with a Dominion Transmission Inc. pipeline in North Central West Virginia through Virginia to Lumberton, North Carolina. Dominion Transmission is Richmond-based Dominion Resource’s interstate gas transmission and storage subsidiary.

Dominion Resources spokesman Jim Norvelle told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the company hasn’t decided whether to build the pipeline.

A route for the pipeline hasn’t been identified. Norvelle said the company is notifying land owners that it will begin surveying for a route as early as this summer.

Dominion Transmission would build the pipeline, which could be put into service by the end of 2018.

Robert Orndorff, a representative with Dominion Transmission, met with the Lewis County Commission in West Virginia on Tuesday to inform the commissioners about the project, The Exponent Telegram reported.

Orndorff said Dominion Transmission expects the pipeline to measure 42 inches in diameter.

“That is huge. That’s going to take a lot of gas out of North Central West Virginia to power plants and other industries in North Carolina,” he said. “It’s actually kind of when you look at it revolutionary, because of the fact that no longer is the primary supply coming out of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s coming out of North Central West Virginia and Pennsylvania.”

Rick Webb, a senior scientist with the University of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Science, is concerned about the pipeline’s impact on the environment.

“This cannot happen without long-term damage to the ecologic and hydrologic integrity of the Allegheny Highlands, among the best and least altered natural landscapes in the Eastern U.S.,” Webb told the Times-Dispatch, “and it will add to the factors that are driving environmentally irresponsible gas-drilling practices.”

If the pipeline is built, Orndorff said it would bring economic development to Lewis County.

— The Associated Press

May 28, 2014 - The Washington Times - AP

Dominion proposes gas pipeline from W.Va. to NC

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) 

Dominion Resources Inc. has proposed building a 450-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from the Appalachian Basin to markets in Virginia and North Carolina.

The proposed Dominion Southeast Reliability Project would run from an interconnection with a Dominion Transmission Inc. pipeline in North Central West Virginia through Virginia to Lumberton, North Carolina. Dominion Transmission is Richmond-based Dominion Resource's interstate gas transmission and storage subsidiary.

Dominion Resources spokesman Jim Norvelle told the Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1kmES2s ) that the company hasn't decided whether to build the pipeline.

A route for the pipeline hasn't been identified. Norvelle said the company is notifying land owners that it will begin surveying for a route as early as this summer.

Dominion Transmission would build the pipeline, which could be put into service by the end of 2018.

Robert Orndorff, a representative with Dominion Transmission, met with the Lewis County Commission in West Virginia on Tuesday to inform the commissioners about the project, The Exponent Telegram (http://bit.ly/1py3lBY) reported.

Orndorff said Dominion Transmission expects the pipeline to measure 42 inches in diameter.

"That is huge. That's going to take a lot of gas out of North Central West Virginia to power power plants and other industries in North Carolina," he said. "It's actually kind of when you look at it revolutionary, because of the fact that no longer is the primary supply coming out of the Gulf of Mexico. It's coming out of North Central West Virginia and Pennsylvania."

Rick Webb, a senior scientist with the University of Virginia's Department of Environmental Science, is concerned about the pipeline's impact on the environment.

"This cannot happen without long-term damage to the ecologic and hydrologic integrity of the Allegheny Highlands, among the best and least altered natural landscapes in the Eastern U.S.," Webb told the Richmond Times-Dispatch, "and it will add to the factors that are driving environmentally irresponsible gas-drilling practices."

If the pipeline is built, Orndorff said it would bring economic development to Lewis County.

May 28, 2014 - Richmond Times Dispatch

$2 BILLION PROJECTDominion considers new W.Va.-Va.-N.C. pipeline

Natural gas project from W.Va. to N.C. could cost $2B

BY PETER BACQUÉ Richmond Times-Dispatch | Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 12:00 am

Dominion Resources Inc. is considering building an approximately 450-mile natural gas transmission pipeline from West Virginia through Virginia to southern North Carolina that would go into service by the end of 2018.

The project is in the “extremely preliminary” stage, company spokesman Jim Norvelle said. “We have not decided to do this.”

The pipeline, called the Dominion Southeast Reliability Project, would extend from the Marcellus and Utica shale production regions in the Appalachians to markets in Virginia and North Carolina, according to a statement from Thomas F. Farrell II, Dominion Resources’ chairman, president and CEO.

“We think there’s interest in getting natural gas from the Appalachian Basin into Virginia and North Carolina,” Norvelle said Tuesday.

Such a pipeline could cost as much as $2 billion to build, based on current construction prices for large U.S. gas pipelines.

As envisioned, the pipeline would run along a corridor from an interconnection with a Dominion Transmission pipeline in Harrison County, W.Va., through Virginia to Greensville County, and on to Lumberton, N.C.

The pipeline would enter the state in Highland County in western Virginia and run southeasterly through Nelson, Buckingham, Dinwiddie and Brunswick counties where it would turn south toward North Carolina.

The proposal features a 70-mile spur line in Greensville to Hampton Roads, and a short connection to the 1,358-megawatt, natural gas-fueled Brunswick Power Station near Lawrenceville. In North Carolina, spurs would run to the Raleigh and Fayetteville areas.

While the company has not identified a specific route for the proposed line, “we have begun notifying landowners we’ll be on their property as early as this summer to begin surveying for the best possible route,” Norvelle said. “Just because we’re surveying doesn’t mean your property has been selected for the route.”

Dominion Transmission Inc., the Dominion Resources interstate gas transmission and storage subsidiary, anticipates building the pipeline during 2017-18 and putting it into service as early as the end of 2018.

According to the Dominion Resources’ annual meeting presentation May 7, the recent, unusually cold winter highlighted the need for Southeastern gas infrastructure, with the proposed pipeline project giving customers access to additional supply basins.

Pipeline companies seeking to construct natural gas pipeline facilities must obtain approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Dominion Transmission issued what’s termed a nonbinding open-season notice for the project April 16.

The energy commission requires the open-season process to ensure that interested parties are made aware of new pipeline projects and to determine if there is sufficient customer interest to pursue projects.

Dominion Transmission has 7,800 miles of pipeline in six states: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. The company also operates one of the largest underground natural gas storage systems in the United States with links to other major pipelines and markets in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

Dominion Transmission stores and transports large quantities of natural gas for major customers, such as utilities and power plants. Dominion Transmission also is a producer and supplier of natural gas liquids at facilities in West Virginia and Maryland.

As a result of its extensive natural gas processing and pipeline system in the gas-rich Marcellus shale region underlying the Appalachian basin, Dominion Resources says it is well positioned to take advantage of the region’s natural gas opportunities.

Environmentalists are concerned about the proposal’s impacts.

“This cannot happen without long-term damage to the ecologic and hydrologic integrity of the Allegheny Highlands, among the best and least altered natural landscapes in the Eastern U.S.,” said Rick Webb, a senior scientist with the University of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Science, “and it will add to the factors that are driving environmentally irresponsible gas-drilling practices.”

Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations. Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich sources of petroleum and natural gas.

Over the past decade, the combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has allowed access to large volumes of shale gas that were previously uneconomical to produce.

Production of natural gas from shale formations has rejuvenated the natural gas industry in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

May 28, 2014 - The Exponent Telegram

Dominion officials brief Lewis Commissioners on plans for pipeline expansion

by Jeremiah Shelor, Staff Writer | Posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 6:15 pm

Robert Orndorff

Robert Orndorff, a representative from Dominion Transmission, speaks with the Lewis County Commission Tuesday about a new pipeline project the company hopes will bring natural gas from North Central West Virginia to North Carolina. Staff photo by Jeremiah Shelor

WESTON — Dominion Transmission has plans to bring a natural gas pipeline through Lewis County.

Robert Orndorff, a representative with the company, met with the Lewis County Commission Tuesday to talk about the project, which he said is still in the very early stages.

Termed the Southeast Reliability Pipeline Project, the planned pipeline would bring gas from the Marcellus and Utica shales to North Carolina, according to Orndorff. North Carolina has historically relied on natural gas from the Gulf Coast, he said.

“We’re at the beginning stages of determining what it’s going to take to get gas to North Carolina,” Orndorff said.

Dominion has a “very rough” plan for where the pipeline might go, Orndorff said. The company is currently in the process of seeking approval from landowners to conduct surveying, he said.

He said the company already has sent letters to particular landowners in Lewis County. Orndorff said he wanted to inform the commission about the project in case any of the county’s residents came to them with concerns.

“If there’s something we’re doing out there that we shouldn’t be doing, let me know right away, and we’ll fix it,” Orndorff told the commissioners.

Current plans are for the pipeline to run 500 miles from West Virginia down to North Carolina, according to Orndorff. The company expects the pipeline to measure 42 inches in diameter, he said.

“That is huge. That’s going to take a lot of gas out of North Central West Virginia to power power plants and other industries in North Carolina,” he said. “It’s actually kind of when you look at it revolutionary, because of the fact that no longer is the primary supply coming out of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s coming out of North Central West Virginia and Pennsylvania.”

Though Orndorff said Dominion is still two years away from even applying for approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the project, he suggested the pipeline will bring positive economic developments to the county.

“We know it will start in Lewis County, and I think that’s a wonderful thing for Lewis County,” Orndorff said. “I think it will bring a lot of economic development. It’ll help the oil and gas industry flourish even more so in the county.”

Staff writer Jeremiah Shelor can be reached at (304) 626-1409 or by email at jshelor@theet.com