Land acquisition for a new liquids-only pipeline across northern Ohio is proceeding.

The $500 million Utopia East Pipeline has generated little community opposition, unlike two bigger natural gas pipelines that will also cross northern Ohio.

The Utopia pipeline would run 210 to 215 miles through 14 counties from Harrison County in Ohio’s Utica Shale area west to Fulton County near Toledo, where it would connect with an existing pipeline. It would pass through parts of southern Stark and Wayne counties.

The pipeline, 12 inches in diameter, will ship about 50,000 barrels of liquids per day, said Allen Fore, vice president for public affairs with Texas-based Kinder Morgan, the pipeline giant behind the new project.

The capacity could be boosted to 75,000 barrels per day with the addition of two more pump stations. Two pump stations are planned.

Construction would likely take place in 2017 and the line could begin services in late 2017 or early 2018, he said.

The name Utopia stands for Utica To Ontario Pipeline Access.

The liquids, including ethane and propane from the Utica Shale, would be shipped to NOVA Chemicals Corp. for use as feedstock for producing plastics at its plant in Corunna, Ontario.

There is capacity for additional customers, Fore said on a recent visit to Akron.

The new pipeline will require easements from more than 900 landowners in Ohio, and about one third of those deals have been completed, he said.

Read more: http://www.norwalkreflector.com/Local/2016/02/13/Land-acquisition-i...