Northern Bridge

  • Location: Clarington, Ohio to Oakford / Delmont, Pennsylvania
  • Interconnects: Texas Eastern Transmission, LP and Clarington, Ohio supply point
  • Capacity: Up to 500 million cubic feet per day
  • Ownership Interest: 100 percent Spectra Energy
  • Projected Completion Date: November 2009

Spectra Energy, in response to the needs of Rocky Mountain natural gas suppliers, is proposing to expand its existing Texas Eastern Transmission system to move new volumes of natural gas into the major Northeast markets of the mid-Atlantic and New England states.

Given its unique position between the growing Clarington supply point and Northeast markets, Texas Eastern is proposing to expand its pipeline system from Clarington, Ohio, to its market area at Oakford / Delmont, Pa., through the Northern Bridge Project.

Expected to transport up to 500 million cubic feet per day of natural gas, Northern Bridge will:

  • “Right-sized” to meet suppliers’ needs to direct the substantial volumes to the growing Northeast markets; and
  • Offer strategic interconnections with all transmission pipelines and several storage markets along its path.

Through its ongoing Northeast strategy, Spectra Energy is developing and constructing well-timed, cost-effective pipeline and storage expansions that will connect significant sources of natural gas to the region. The growing Northeast markets will enjoy diversity of supply and the ability to better manage price volatility, along with enhanced supply security and reliability.

Spectra Energy will hold a binding open season for additional pipeline capacity on Northern Bridge from Thursday, September 6, through Friday, September 28, at 5 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact Rob Hansen at (617) 560-1549 or view the Binding Open Season Notice (pdf, 3.16 MB).

Last year, Spectra Energy recognized the potential for Rocky Mountain natural gas to move further east on its Texas Eastern pipeline system and held a successful open season called ‘TEMAX.’

Northern Bridge represents the first project that developed from the TEMAX open season. With an anticipated capital expenditure of $100 million to $150 million, the additional capacity will be achieved by a combination of more compression at existing compressor stations and pipeline looping that, where possible, will utilize existing rights of way. The exact nature of facilities will be based upon the results of the open season.

Northern Bridge is expected to begin operations in late 2009.