Public learns more about proposed Bluegrass pipeline

COLUMBIANA — Residents turned out in droves to hear from an Oklahoma-based company about its plan to construct up to 600 miles of new pipeline that will deliver natural gas liquids across seven states and 16 of Ohio’s counties.

Williams Companies Inc. hosted an open house today at Das Dutch Village Inn here to explain all facets of one of the largest infrastructure projects yet announced for the Utica and Marcellus Shale plays.

At times, the small banquet room was so packed that attendees were straining to hear one another speak at the informational booths describing the construction, environmental and safety aspects of the pipeline.

The company announced in March that it had entered a joint venture with Houston-based Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, which will own about 60 percent of the 1,100- mile pipeline, when Williams connects to its Texas Gas Pipeline in Kentucky, which will be converted to handle natural-gas liquids, a mix of ethane, butane, propane and other naturally occurring gases dredged up during the hydraulic-fracturing process.

The Bluegrass will deliver 200,000 barrels per day of NGLs to the Gulf Coast for processing and export. It could eventually be increased to handle 400,000 barrels per day if the market demands it.

The open house is just one of several the company recently has hosted in Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania, where the new 600-mile stretch of pipeline will be installed.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com