KEMMERER — Natural gas company Williams Pipeline has applied for an expansion project that would increase capacity to Opal, a major regional natural gas hub in Wyoming, to meet growing regional and west coast demand.

The MountainWest Overthrust pipeline project is an expansion of the existing pipeline system and will be regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure cooperation with other state, local and federal regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders.

Once approved by FERC, the expansion project will add a total of approximately 325,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) — adding an additional 10% to current capacity — by the fourth quarter of 2025. The current peak capacity of the MountainWest system is 3,220,834 Dth/d.

The project consists of multiple pigging modifications, valve updates and an additional compressor unit added to the Point of Rocks and Rock Springs compressor stations along the MountainWest system.

The company has determined approximately 518 total employees will work on the project, including both Williams employees and construction workers. According to Williams MountainWest, the estimated labor income is $30,846,877 and estimated state and local taxes will be $1,144,653.

Williams owns and operates a variety of energy infrastructure in Wyoming and has over 5,192 miles of total pipeline in Wyoming. The company’s infrastructure includes the Northwest Pipeline, Overland Pass Pipeline, MountainWest Pipeline, White River Hub and gathering and processing operations.