Texas gas caverns go supersize: 50% more storage incoming
Published Date: 8/5/2026
Notice
Summary
Tres Palacios Gas Storage LLC wants to expand its Texas gas storage by adding three new giant caverns, new pipelines, and powerful compressors. This upgrade will boost their storage capacity by over 50% and speed up gas injection by 650 million cubic feet daily. If you’re interested, you’ve got until a set deadline to speak up or join the process—this could impact local energy storage and market rates.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Large Texas Gas Storage Expansion
Tres Palacios proposes to build three new salt‑dome gas storage caverns (Smith Caverns 5, 6, and 7) by converting brine caverns with a total of about 24.8 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of working gas and about 8.93 Bcf of base gas, roughly 33.73 Bcf total for the three caverns. The company says the Project would raise the facility's maximum design storage from 63.6 Bcf (42.5 Bcf working) to 97.3 Bcf (67.3 Bcf working) and increase injection capability by 650 million cubic feet per day to a total of 1,650 MMcf/day.
Request to Keep Market-Based Rates
In its application, Tres Palacios requests reaffirmation of its authorization to charge market-based rates for its services for the Smith Cavern Expansion Project. The request is part of the materials filed with FERC in docket CP26-556-000.
Deadline to Comment or Intervene
If you want to file comments, protests, or a motion to intervene in the FERC review of this project, you must do so by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 21, 2026. Filing comments or motions to intervene has no fee; timely intervenors become parties with the right to request rehearing of Commission orders and to challenge orders in U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal.
Clean Water Act Section 401 Needed
Tres Palacios states that a Clean Water Act section 401 water quality certification is required from the Railroad Commission of Texas for the Project and should submit the request date and either the certifying agency's decision or evidence of waiver to FERC. The company must provide that certification material as part of its authorization filings.
FERC Environmental Review Timeline
The notice states that within 90 days of this Notice, FERC staff will either complete its environmental review and place it in the public record or issue a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review, which will include the anticipated date for the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or environmental assessment (EA). The filing of an EA or issuance of a Notice of Schedule will trigger timing for federal and state agencies to complete necessary authorizations within 90 days of the FEIS/EA date.
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Key Dates
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