RCA OKs Pt Thomson line connection

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has approved an application by PTE Pipeline LLC and ExxonMobil Production to connect the Point Thomson unit production facilities to the Point Thomson export pipeline system.

The companies filed for approval of the connection agreement in July.

The companies also filed a joint motion to expedite consideration of the approval, requesting approval by Dec. 1 “in anticipation of the PTEP being in service in December 2015,” RCA said.

The Point Thomson export pipeline is a 22-mile common carrier pipeline which will transport liquid petroleum from the Point Thomson unit central processing facility to a connection point on the Badami pipeline system at the Badami central processing facility. When that facility comes online it will be the farthest east production on Alaska’s North Slope.

The applicants told RCA that the Point Thomson export line is currently connected to the Badami pipeline; the application was filled to allow ExxonMobil to connect its Point Thomson unit production facilities to the pipeline. The companies told RCA that ExxonMobil plans to begin transporting Point Thomson petroleum through the requested connection in the winter season of 2015-16.

An initial tariff filing of $20.39 per barrel for the line, submitted in mid-September, has been protested by the state of Alaska (see story in Oct. 11 issue). PTE Pipeline is 68 percent owned by ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. and 32 percent by BP Transportation (Alaska) Inc. In its tariff filing PTE Pipeline said it expected the line to be in service on or about Dec. 15.

- KRISTEN NELSON