Equitable Midstream, which is a business unit of Equitable Resources, Inc., on Sept. 4, 2008, launched an open season on the planned expansion of its gathering and transportation systems within the Marcellus fairway from south central West Virginia to Northwestern Pennsylvania.

With its "Marcellus Eastern Access Hub" expansion, Equitable plants to add incremental capacity to help producers maximize natural gas production from the burgeoning Marcellus fairway in the Appalachian region. According to Equitable, Appalachian producers will also benefit from operational flexibility, access to diverse markets, and additional storage capacity.

Equitable noted the expansion will provide access to premium Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic markets through the following interconnects:

• Northern Pennsylvania:
  Pipeline interconnects: Tennessee Gas Pipeline, National Fuel Gas Supply
  Markets: New York, New England, New Jersey
• Central Pennsylvania:
  Pipeline interconnects: Texas Eastern, Dominion Transmission, Columbia Transmission
  Markets: New York, New England, Philadelphia
• Central West Virginia:
  Pipeline interconnects: Columbia Transmission
  Markets: Washington, DC, Baltimore

"This project is both exciting and unique, because it gives producers multiple options to reach major pipelines using one of the largest midstream gathering companies in Appalachia," Martin Fritz, president of Equitable Midstream, said in the company's announcement.

Equitable Midstream will define the scope of the expansion and identify production access and firm delivery points after it reviews non-binding commitments submitted through Sept. 30, 2008. Should the company proceed with the expansion, it expects to place the first phase of the expansion into service in late 2008. The second phase is slated to go into service in Nov. 2011.