Kinder Morgan Hosts Binding Open Season for NGL Pipeline

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (Houston) has launched a binding open season to solicit commitments for its Utica to Ontario Pipeline Access (UTOPIA) project, which will provide opportunities to transport ethane and ethane/propane mixtures from the Utica Shale area.

Under the UTOPIA project, Kinder Morgan Cochin will develop, construct, own, and operate a 240-mile, 12-in.-dia. pipeline from Harrison County, Ohio to Kinder Morgan’s Cochin pipeline near Riga, Mich. There the company would move product east to Windsor, Ont. UTOPIA would transport refined or fractionated NGLs, including ethane and propane, with an initial 50,000 bbld of capacity, which is expandable to more than 75,000 bbld.

Pending a successful open season and timely receipt of permits and regulatory approvals, the new pipeline would be expected to be in service by early 2018. “We are pleased to offer this proposal, which will complement our existing transportation solutions for NGLs produced in the Utica,” said Don Lindley, president of natural gas liquids, products pipelines for Kinder Morgan. “The UTOPIA project will enable us to continue to provide a pipeline transportation solution into the growing Ontario market.”

Additional documents and details related to the open season will be made available upon completion of a confidentiality agreement. The binding open season opened Sept. 5. Those interested in obtaining more detailed information can visit the Kinder Morgan website at www.kindermorgan.com, or contact Karen Kabin, vice president of business development in Kinder Morgan’s products pipeline group, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 713/369-9268.