Tennessee Gas Seeks Higher Mexican Export Authorizations
Tennessee Gas Pipeline has applied to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Ferc) to increase how much natural gas it is permitted to export at two interconnections with the Mexican pipeline grid.
In applications filed with Ferc on December 20 and announced by the regulator on January 3, Tennessee Gas Pipeline has asked for two existing Presidential Permits, issued in 1999, to be amended to increase authorized exports at its Pemex border crossing in Hidalgo County, Texas to 468mn ft3/d (from 185mn ft3/d) and at its Rio Bravo border crossing, also in Hidalgo County, to 420mn ft3/d (from 320mn ft3/d).
Neither permit amendment would require additional facilities, but would only align permitted export volumes with maximum daily operating capacities at each crossing, Tennessee Gas Pipeline said in its applications. “Tennessee is seeking to increase the maximum daily import and export authorization to accommodate potential growth in firm deliveries…in order to satisfy an increased demand for natural gas in Mexico,” it added.
US pipeline exports of natural gas to Mexico have increased substantially in recent years, and in 2016 totalled nearly 1.4 trillion ft3, compared to less than 350bn ft3 in 2010. And they have continued to grow, reaching near-record levels in the first five months of 2017 averaging 4.04bn ft3/d, up from their full year 2016 average of 3.78bn ft3/d, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said August 2017.
The Pemex border crossing facilities connect to facilities operated by Pemex Gas y Petroquimica Basica, while the Rio Bravo crossing connects with Gasoducto Del Rio.
Tennessee Gas is asking Ferc to treat the applications in an expedited fashion and to issue its authorizations as soon as possible.