Transco reported sending a force majeure notice to customers under the ESS and EESWS rate schedules. The pipeline explained that on Dec. 26 it detected a large, unexpected pressure drop in one of seven caverns at Eminence Storage Field in Covington County, MS. Eminence is the facility that supports the service for affected customers. Two days later Transco determined that gas was leaking from Cavern 3 and since then has reduced the cavern’s pressure by venting and flaring gas. On Jan. 4, Transco continued, based on a determination that the reduced pressure in Cavern 3 created a risk to the salt pillars separating it from adjacent Caverns 1 and 2, the pipeline began to reduce the pressures of Caverns 1 and 2 by withdrawing gas from them. During those operations, on Jan. 15 Transco discovered gas escaping from the ground around the wellhead for Cavern 1. It continued to safely withdraw gas from Caverns 1 and 2, and by Jan. 24 their pressure was low enough to avoid potential effects on Cavern 3. However, due to the leak at Cavern 3 and the damage to the well at Cavern 1, both are out of service, and that prompted last Thursday’s force majeure declaration, Transco said. Determining that neither cavern can be returned to service, it plans to file an application with FERC seeking to abandon them. Transco estimates that due to the force majeure event, Eminence is capable of providing about 70% of contracted capacity and 92% of contracted deliverability. The field’s daily injection capability is not affected.

El Paso recalled notifying customers Oct. 8 that Line 1102 would return to service and be ready for scheduling activity on Oct. 12, but operating pressure between the Amarillo and Dumas compressor stations would have to be limited to 609 psig in accordance with the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Corrective Action Order. El Paso said it now has permission from DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to lift the pressure restriction. It returned Line 1102 between Amarillo and Dumas to normal operations and scheduling effective with Cycle 1 (Timely) nominations for last Friday’s gas day and rescinded the associated force majeure issued Nov. 5.

Rockies Express (REX) has scheduled periodic maintenance at five compressor stations during March. No shipper impact is anticipated from work at the Arlington, Chandlersville and Wamsutter facilities. However, REX said, emergency shutdown testing March 30 at Bertrand Compressor Station will limit capacity through Segment 250 to 1,400,000 Dth that day, and based on the current level of nominations, AOR/IT, secondary and primary quantities are at risk of not being fully scheduled. On the same day a smart pig will be run between Cheyenne and Julesburg compressor stations, and in combination with Cheyenne maintenance capacity through Segment 200 will be limited to 1,400,000 Dth, creating a similar possible restriction on AOR/IT, secondary and primary scheduling.

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