The 680 mile natural gas transmission pipeline begins at the Opal hub in Wyoming and terminates at the Malin, Oregon interconnect.
According to the company release, Ruby will have an initial capacity of 1.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) and is expandable to 2bcf/d. In addition, the company is planning to partner in the project with Bear Energy, a subsidiary of The Bear Stearns Companies. Partnering discussions include Bear Energy becoming an initial shipper on the pipeline.
Jim Cleary, president of El Paso’s western pipeline group, said: The Ruby Pipeline connects Rocky Mountain natural gas producers with one of the most attractive natural gas demand regions in the country. Ruby will provide natural gas users in northern California, Nevada, and the Pacific northwest with competitively priced natural gas from the nation’s most important growth supply region.
El Paso said that it is in discussions with other prospective shippers and will announce a formal open season. Subject to regulatory approvals and obtaining necessary customer commitments, the Ruby pipeline is anticipated to be put into service in the first quarter of 2011.
