Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America LLC (NGPL) announced the beginning of a 30-day binding open season to solicit shipper interest in the possible expansion of its Gulf Coast mainline system from the Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) interconnection in Moultrie County, Ill., to northern points on NGPL’s pipeline system. This project will increase the company’s transportation capacity by up to about 450,000 dekatherms per day and provide for incremental firm transportation service to markets in and around Chicago, Ill., in NGPL’s Market Delivery Zone.

The expansion is expected to cost about $100 million and will consist of the installation of a new compressor station along NGPL’s market area system, with an expected in-service date of Nov. 1, 2016. The binding open season began on Oct. 16 and will end at 4 p.m. Central time on Nov. 17.