Pine Prairie Energy Center LLC (Pine Prairie) has filed an application with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commision to construct and operate of its Phase IV Expansion Project. The project consists of the installation of a new natural gas storage cavern (Cavern No. 6) with a working gas capacity of approximately 10.8 bcf (283.1 x 106 m3); the construction of a new 19,000 hp (14,174 kW) electric motor driven compressor unit; the construction of 2.3 miles (3.8 km) of 30-inch (762-mm) diameter header loop pipeline; modifications to the existing ANR North Meter Station and the Highway 10 Valve Site; and construction of a new brine filtration system and other necessary auxiliary facilities to support its expansion, all located at the existing Pine Prairie Energy Center located in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana.
Pine Prairie’s gas handling facility includes two compressor buildings with total compression of 94,000 hp (70,124 kW). The first compressor building currently houses six natural gas-fueled 8000 hp compressors (Compressor Nos. 1-6) and is designed to be expanded to accommodate two additional compressors. The second compressor building houses eight electric motor-driven 5750 hp (4289 kW) compressors (Compressor Nos. 9-16) and is designed to accommodate up to two additional compressors.
Pine Prairie proposes improvements to its existing gas handling facility to support the development of Cavern No. 6. Pine Prairie will install one 19,000 hp electric motor driven two-stage compressor unit (Compressor No. 17) in the existing second compressor building of the gas handling facility. This addition will improve operational reliability, support increased injection and withdrawal flexibility, and reduce emissions during standard operation. Installation of the additional compressor unit will increase the Pine Prairie gas handling facility capacity from 94,000 hp of compression to 113,000 hp (84,298 kW) of compression. All work associated with the new compressor unit will occur within the footprint of the existing Pine Prairie facility.
