In a further update about maintenance on Line 4000 that has caused a loss of 700 MMcf/d of receipt capacity at the South Needles (El Paso, Topock), and North Needles (Transwestern and Southern Trails) border points since Sept. 20 (see Daily GPI, Oct. 13), Southern California Gas said Tuesday the line will be isolated from Newberry to Main Line Valve 12 (a total of 36 miles) due to numerous anomalies recently discovered from internal inspection. The line will remain out of service until mid to late December, SoCalGas said.

Columbia Gulf said Tuesday about 15,000 Dth/d of production is associated with a leak on Line 100 of the Bluewater West Leg system offshore Louisiana (see Daily GPI, Oct. 31). The leak is near the interconnection assembly of Columbia Gulf, Bois D’Arc and Tennessee in Vermilion Block 127. Columbia Gulf said it is working with Crosstex Energy Services at the Bluewater Plant to reduce the pressure on Line 100 to a level that will allow divers to safely assess the situation. Line 200 on the Western Shore Line has been isolated from the 100 Line, it added. See the bulletin boards for lists of the Columbia Gulf and Tennessee meters that have been required to shut in.

Noting that its Washington Ranch Storage Facility will be out of service Nov. 1-7 for bottomhole pressure surveys and pipeline remediation, El Paso said its operational flexibility will be extremely limited during this time as no injections or withdrawals will be possible. Shippers were “strongly encouraged” to keep receipts and deliveries in balance. If significant and persistent imbalances are experienced, El Paso said, it will issue a notice of Strained Operating Condition and, if necessary, a notice of Critical Operating Condition.

Southern Natural Gas said Tuesday it had completed sufficient repairs to hurricane-damaged facilities upstream of the Toca (LA) Compressor Station that nominations are being accepted again at the Main Pass 301 receipt point. See the bulletin board for a list of points upstream of Toca that had previously been approved for flow.

Westcoast, which has frequently discouraged packing of its system in recent months by setting an imbalance tolerance range of zero pack/20% draft, has swung entirely in the other direction with a range of 20% pack/zero draft.

©Copyright 2006Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.