Statoil has recently entered into transportation agreements in the US ensuring the right to transport and deliver natural gas produced in the Northern Marcellus shale gas area of Pennsylvania to the New Jersey and New York City areas. The transportation agreements secure access to some of the main pipeline systems for gas in the New York City area. Statoil’s US subsidiary Statoil Natural Gas (SNG) has concluded transportation agreements with Tennessee Gas Pipeline (a subsidiary of El Paso Corp.), and Texas Eastern Transmission (a subsidiary of Spectra Energy Corp.), ensuring Statoil the right to transport up to 2 billion cum/yr directly from the Northern Marcellus production area to New York City and the surrounding areas. The transportation capacity contracts are expected to commence in November 2013 after an anticipated project permitting and construction period.