Northwest has initially designed the proposed project to add approximately 100,000 Dth per day of new capacity because it can increase capacity by only adding compression facilities, which can be sized to suit the needs and be in-service by Nov. 1, 1999. Compression facilities required by the expansion will be located at existing compressor stations in the Columbia River Gorge area. Expansions of Northwest's system from Stanfield through the Columbia River Gorge can be built in phases to match pipeline capacity to market demand without inefficient overbuilding of facilities and can provide additional capacity of between 50,000 to 300,000 Dth per day. An expansion larger than 100,000 Dth per day would require both pipeline loop and compression facilities and would not be available for service until the year 2000. The projected in-service date for the facilities resulting from the second open season is November 2000.
Potential shippers can contract for capacity on either or both of the expansion projects.
Northwest, based in Salt Lake City, operates 3,950 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline that extends from Sumas, Wash., on the Canadian border to the San Juan Basin in northern New Mexico. The pipeline, a part of The Williams Companies, Inc., provides natural gas service to seven states in the Pacific Northwest and the Intermountain region. Although the company believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is not assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the company's annual report on Form 10K, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.