Despite the economic uncertainty and possible concern about lower energy use, companies like Transco are prospering. There is currently a project in the pipeline – excuse the pun – which will provide an additional 142,000 dekatherms of natural gas transportation capacity by November 2012.

This ambitious project, called the Transco Mid-Atlantic Connector pipeline expansion, will serve the growing demands of the region. It will interconnect with East Tennessee Natural Gas and deliver fuel as far North as Maryland, with extra connections at Columbia Gas Transmission, Dominion Transmission and Dominion Cove Point. This will involve a massive number of pipe fittings and flanges, in high quality alloys designed to withstand a range of environmental conditions. There is a high risk of failure in gas pipelines, both underwater and below ground, hence the pipe fittings used must be able to resist corrosion, pressure stresses and so on.

Transco is seemingly committed to finding ‘greener’ energy solutions and say there is a growing need for clean-burning natural gas – despite the numerous calls for alternative energy sources with less of a carbon footprint. It’s not hard to see why their case has admirers. Ecological solutions are still expensive to implement and the safety of other alternatives like nuclear power is disputed. Provided the pipe fittings are checked regularly, natural gas is safe and cheap to produce; it’s also a familiar and trusted product.

We at Chemipetro supply high-quality alloy pipe fittings and flanges to a range of energy industries, including natural gas. The Transco project is just one of a number of pipeline expansions planned across the globe.