Eminent domain is possible as several Ohio oil and gas pipelines are scheduled for construction beginning in 2015. Experts estimate that billions of dollars will be spent constructing these pipelines.
As production in the Utica shale fields booms, the problem of transporting the products from eastern Ohio to the Gulf coast is also increasing. Thus the need for new pipelines.
By late 2015, the $469 million Ohio Pipeline Energy Network (“OPEN”) project should begin operation. That pipeline is planned in extreme eastern Ohio from Columbiana County to northern Monroe county where it will connect wtih an existihng Texas Eastern pipeline.
While the drop in oil and gas prices could upset or delay construction of some of the pipeline projects, no less than five major pipelines are currently in the planning stages.
Energy Transfer Partners LP has proposed a $4.3 billion 830 mile long Rover Pipeline. The company reports that this pipeline would transport 3.25 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day from eastern Ohio into Ontario, Canada. If all goes according to plan, the Rover Pipeline would be in operation in early 2017.
Houston based Columbia Pipeline Group currently has plans to construct three pipelines. The Mountaineer Xpress pipeline is in the early stages and is not expected to begin service until late in 2018. The Mountaineer Xpress project would transport 750 million to 2.5 billion cubic feet of gas from eastern Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Two other Columbia Pipeline projects – the Rayne and Leach Xpress are scheduled for service by the second half of 2017. These projects would cost $1.75 billion to construct and could transport as much as 1.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day to the Appalachian region. The Leach Xpress pipeline in particular would impact several central Ohio counties.
Summit Midstream Partners LP of Dallas recently announced plans for a $400 million pipeline in Belmont and Monroe counties. This pipeline could move up to 500 million cubic feet of gas per day and would connect to the Regency Utica Ohio River pipeline now under construction.
Finally, Spectra Energy Corp. plans four separate pipelines to transport gas from the Utica and Marcellus fields throughout the United States and Canada. These pipelines could transport up to 3.5 billion cubic feet of gas but would take at least three years to be put into service.
It is possible that any or all of these pipelines could involve the eminent domain process. If you are a landowner who is affected by any of these pipelines, contact the Ohio Eminent Domain Attorneys at Clark, Perdue & List to insure that you receive just and adequate compensation for your property.