El Paso, Equitable plan pipeline project

NEW YORK Dec 10 (Reuters) - El Paso Corp EP.N and Equitable Resources Inc (EQT.N) on Monday said they plan to build a natural gas pipeline running from Clarington, Ohio, to Pleasant Valley, New York.

The 471-mile pipeline -- called the Northeast Passage Project -- would have an initial capacity of 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas per day. It is intended to connect the Rockies Express Pipeline to markets in the U.S. northeast.

The companies expect the project to begin service on Nov. 1, 2011, subject to regulatory approvals and other factors. (Reporting by Michael Erman)