Kansas regulators have raised concerns over Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline’s proposal to expand its Alden Gas Storage Field in Rice County, KS, citing unknown integrity of well plugs in the area.

The Alden Storage Field currently has a certificated storage boundary/buffer area that encompasses approximately 3,540 acres, and is seeking to increase the buffer zone by about 1,592 acres. The Alden field uses the Misner Sandstone as its gas storage reservoir. The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) estimates that 13 oil/gas wells have been plugged in the area. “The integrity of the plugs within the wells…is unknown,” the KCC told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) [CP11-481].

“Improperly or poorly plugged oil wells, gas wells, and/or dry holes can provide conduits for migration of salt water, natural gas and/or hydrocarbons within the subsurface and may lead to migration of these compounds to the surface. Due the unknown integrity of the well plugs in these wells, the…wells are considered potential sources for migration of storage gas out of the gas storage formation to other areas within the subsurface and/or to the surface.”

Southern Star Central, which owns the storage field, contends that Stafford, KS-based Rama Operating Co. is producing natural gas from its storage facility, thus making its request urgent.

“The urgency of acquiring this acreage relates to the Rama Wellman No. 1 well, a producing oil/gas well immediately offsetting the southern boundary of the certificate storage area,” the pipeline said. Southern Star Central said it has filed as “privileged and confidential” two reports with FERC which support that conclusion.

The Alden Storage Field currently has a maximum storage capacity of 14.7 Bcf, with a working capacity of 4.2 Bcf. The maximum deliverability for the field is not expected to exceed 134 MMcf/d, according to Southern Star Central.

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