Expansion of Dominion Cove Point LNG

In August 2006, Dominion received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to increase Dominion Cove Point LNG's daily output capacity from 1 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day to 1.8 Bcf per day and expand its storage capacity from 7.8 Bcf to about 14.6 Bcf. One Bcf of natural gas is enough energy for about 3.4 million homes each day.

The expansion project was completed in 2009 and added two storage tanks, bringing the total number at the site to seven, and two electric generating units to the existing three units.

Dominion Cove Point also expanded its pipeline in Maryland to deliver more natural gas to interstate pipeline connections in Virginia. Dominion Transmission built a new pipeline, a pipeline extension, two pipelines parallel to existing lines and two compressor stations in Pennsylvania to move natural gas to customers throughout the Northeast.

These pipeline projects are key to delivering new gas supplies to where they are needed in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The Maryland project brings more winter supplies to the Mid-Atlantic region, and the Pennsylvania projects allows supplies to be stored in the summer and moved to the Northeast for use during the winter.

Pier Reinforcement Project

In 2009, Dominion filed an application with FERC to reinforce the offshore platform at Cove Point to accommodate its customers and the recent advances in LNG ship technology and to enable the safe docking, off-loading, and departure from the pier of larger-sized LNG vessels now coming into service worldwide. (link to platform project page)

The modifications will enable Cove Point to receive vessels carrying larger cargoes than the current maximum capacity of 148,000 cubic meters can be handled. The modifications will allow DCP to receive vessels carrying cargoes of up to 267,000 cubic meters.

To the extent that DCP shippers opt to use the larger vessels, they could deliver comparable quantities of LNG using fewer ships.  Even after the pier is reinforced, the terminal will remain capable of receiving the types of ships that are in use today.