By Tim Bradner
Alaska Journal of Commerce

One of the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority's principle tasks has been doing planning work on a 20-inch or 24-inch spur pipeline that would connect a gas pipeline to the state's major populations centers in Southcentral Alaska.

ANDGA is facilitating preparations for the spur pipeline, but it is expected that a private firm would build and own the project, according to Harold Heinze, ANGDA's executive director. Heinze briefed the Alaska Support Industry Alliance on the project April 24.

ANGDA is a state corporation working on ways to get North Slope gas to communities in the state.

The spur pipeline would connect to the large-diameter pipeline at Delta, located east of Fairbanks, follow the trans-Alaska oil pipeline right-of-way south to Glennallen and then branch off toward Palmer on a 150-mile right-of-way that parallels the Glenn Highway.

The state Department of Natural Resources has granted a conditional right-of-way to ANGDA for the Glennallen to Palmer section.

Near Palmer, the pipeline could connect with an existing Enstar Natural Gas Co. gas pipeline or continue another 40 miles to the Beluga gas field, where gas could be stored.

There are huge swings in winter and summer use of gas by local utilities and some kind of storage is needed so that winter peak demands can be met while the pipeline operates year-round delivering a steady volume of gas.

ANDGA will soon kick off the next increment in its preparation for permits for the spur pipeline with a wetlands assessment that can be used as the basis for an application, Heinze said. The work is set to be completes early next year.

The NEEPA Group, a joint venture of several Alaska environmental and engineering firms, has been selected to do the work. Companies included are the Shaw Group, Doyon Ltd., Bristol Environmental and Engineering Services Corp., Oasis Environmental, Marsh Creek, Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. and KDC.

Tim Bradner can be reached at tim.bradner@alaskajournal.com.