Infrastructure gets an update in Eastern U.S.: How TC Energy modernized our pipeline to deliver energy more efficiently

Over 33,000 customers in Maryland and West Virginia are continuing to use the natural gas they rely on, delivered via TC Energy U.S. Natural Gas pipe with less emissions, now that Line 8000 has gone into service.

On August 10, the 14-mile pipeline beginning in LaVale, Maryland, and ending in Keyser, West Virginia, went into service. This project replaced a 70-year-old 12-inch line that area residents and businesses rely on for their energy needs.

“The replacement of the line has the benefits of upgrading from a vintage car to a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. Both vehicles will get you safely to where you want to go, but the newer one has more technology and less impact on the environment,” explained Anthony Sulkowski, Line 8000’s project manager.

The replacement work was done over three years in three phases with the first phase implemented in 2019, the second in August 2021 and the third completed on August 10, 2022. Due to the number of customers using gas on the line, the replacement had to be completed without any outages.

“We worked with our USNG Operations team to ensure there was no interruption to service at any time and we maintained excellent safety record over the three-year period. Given our proven and established relationship with the construction contractor, we also completed the third phase one month ahead of schedule,” added Rodney Mason, construction manager for the project.    

Scott Terneus, the project’s pipeline engineer, designed the project from beginning to completion and shared that installing pipe under the Potomac River through an 1,800 foot horizontal directional drill (HDD) was made particularly challenging given the layer of ‘cobble’ the pipe had to move through first.

“Cobble is a layer of sediment that has rocks the size of footballs. Our engineering approach meant that we needed to go through the cobble in a way that any material removed did not enter the river. We were successful in doing so,” he said.

Line 8000 is just one of several TC Energy natural gas projects expected to be completed in the U.S. this year.

“Whether we’re modernizing our assets through our Columbia Gas Transmission Modernization Program with projects like Line 8000 or enhancing our other TC Energy pipeline systems, our project teams will continue to focus on ensuring safe and reliable natural gas for our customers,” said Anthony.

Did you know?

As part of the Line 8000 project, we contributed $5,000 to the United Way’s local food pantry in Maryland’s Cumberland County and West Virginia’s Mineral County, and $2,500 to the Western Maryland Food Bank, Inc. as part of our commitment to build strong communities where we live and work.