Solar Turbines For Southeast Energy Connector Project

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco) is seeking Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval for its proposed Southeast Energy Connector project. Specifically, Transco proposes to construct approximately 1.9 miles (3 km) of 42-in. (1-m) pipeline loop on its existing Mainline E in Chilton and Coosa Counties, Alabama; remove existing pig traps at Mileposts 909.63 and 911.53 on its Mainline E; and install an additional 11,110-hp (828-kW) gas-fired, turbine-driven compressor unit and to run along with the three existing compressor units at its Compressor Station 105 in Coosa County, Alabama. The purpose of the project is to provide an additional 150,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation service to Ernest C. Gaston Electric Generating Plant in Shelby County, Alabama.

Compressor Station 105 currently includes four turbine-driven compressor units. Unit 1 is a 15,000-hp (11,190-kW) Solar Model Mars 100 driving a Dresser-Rand (DR) Model 50PDI centrifugal compressor, Unit 2 is a 15,000-hp Solar Model Mars 100S gas turbine driving a DR Model 50PDI centrifugal compressor, Unit 3 is a 15,000-hp Solar Model Mars 100S gas turbine driving a DR Model 50PDI centrifugal compressor, and Unit 4 is a 20,500-hp (15,293-kW) Solar Titan Model 130 gas turbine driving a Solar Model C752 centrifugal gas compressor unit. The total current station horsepower capacity is 65,500 hp (48,863 kW).

The new compressor addition (Unit 5) will consist of one 11,110-hp Solar Taurus 70 turbine-driven centrifugal gas compressor unit. Additional auxiliary equipment includes a turbine exhaust system designed with an outside stack and exhaust silencer system, turbine air intake filter system designed with associated filter/silencer system, aboveground gas piping and associated components, an outdoor lube oil cooler that serves the compressor, and outdoor gas cooling.