STATUS:
Mountaineer Xpress Pipeline
The proposed Mountaineer Xpress
Pipeline (MXP) project includes approx-
imately 165 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline; three new compressor stations
in Doddridge, Calhoun and Jackson
counties; modifications to existing com-
pressor stations in Marshall, Wayne and
Kanawha counties; and one regulating
station. The pipeline would run south
through the state from Marshall County
and end in Wayne County. This would
provide an additional 2.7-billion-cubic-
feet-per-day capacity of firm transporta-
tion service from the Marcellus and Utica
production areas to Columbia Gas Trans-
mission’s markets, including western West
Virginia and the TCO Pool.
“The purpose of our current growth
projects in West Virginia is to meet the
increasing demand of clean, domestically
produced natural gas and make it available
to the local, regional, national and world
markets,” says Scott Castleman, U.S.
50
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
Pending FERC Approval
Natural Gas Communications manager.
“The proposed projects will allow natural
gas to safely and efficiently flow through
TransCanada’s system to meet current and
future energy needs.”
The MXP is proposed in conjunc-
tion with the Gulf Xpress, which would
construct seven new midpoint compres-
sor stations in Kentucky, Tennessee and
Mississippi, allowing an additional 875
million cubic feet of gas per day to move
toward the Gulf Coast region. The esti-
mated cost for the overall project is $2.7
billion, but the expected economic impact
is even greater.
“The MXP project is a significant fi-
nancial investment in the state of West
Virginia,” says Castleman. “According to
an economic impact study conducted by
Witt Economic LLC, approximately 8,800
jobs will be created during construction
of this project, and the overall economic
investment is estimated at $2.1 billion.”
The project will also create addition-
al tax revenue for the affected counties
and the state overall. According to the
study, counties crossed by the pipeline
will benefit from increased property tax
revenues during construction and after
the pipeline is placed in service.
The project application was submitted to
the FERC in April 2016, and the decision
is expected in late 2017 or early 2018
with construction to begin on November
1, 2018.