FERC denies ETP request to resume drilling

WASHINGTON D.C., May 26, 2017 – A request by pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) to continue horizontal drilling operations in Ohio and West Virginia was denied by the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday. The drilling was taking place as part of excavation works for the installation of its Rover Pipeline.

ETP’s request, filed on May 16, was rejected despite its insistence that a halt in excavation work could result in environmental harm due to the movement of equipment used in the drilling operations.

The regulatory commission first ordered the company to stop drilling after a fluids leak of 7.57 million litres occurred while the company was drilling in Ohio’s wetlands last month.

The regulator’s decision may impede ETP’s objective of bringing the USD 4.2-billion Rover Pipeline on line by July 1 with a phase one capacity of 92 mcm (3.25 bcf) of gas per day.

Once completed, Rover will serve gas producers operating in the Utica and Marcellus shale plays.

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