The Rockies Connector, which is an expansion of the existing Transco pipeline, is being designed to provide the Northeast U.S. with natural gas from the Rocky Mountains, Appalachia, and Marcellus Shale supply regions. The proposed pipeline extension would connect Williams’ Transco Station 195 in York County, Pa., to the Rockies Express pipeline in Monroe County, Ohio.

The Rockies Connector extension calls for burying a 30-inch wide pipe approximately three to five feet underground along a 250-mile route; a trench about four to five feet wide is needed to build the pipeline extension.

Although a final route for the Rockies Connector Pipeline has not been determined, Williams is looking to connect the expansion to existing utility corridors for approximately 80% of the route in an effort to reduce environmental impacts.

After Williams' held its binding open season, the company decided to combine Rockies Connector Pipeline and Transco’s Northeast Connector project with plans to construct and operate them as an expansion of its existing Transco pipeline system. The combined project is called Northeast Supply Project.

The proposed project includes a 250-mile extension of the Transco system that would connect the Rockies Express Pipeline near Clarington, Ohio, to Transco’s mainline in southeastern Pennsylvania. The project also provides an expansion of Transco’s existing system, giving shippers a seamless path from Clarington to delivery points in Transco’s Zone 6, states Williams. Also included in the expansion, is a proposed new lateral from Transco’s existing pipeline in northern New Jersey to a new deliver point in lower Manhattan.

Natural gas delivered by the Rockies Connector Pipeline would be available to Transco shippers and other interstate pipelines serving the Northeast.

The project should commence November 2011 with approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Williams has not finalized the capacity, scope, or cost of the project.