The expected arrival of more liquefied natural gas in the Gulf Coast region and improving market conditions have prompted the launch of another Gulf Coast gas storage project. Port Barre Gas Storage (PBGS) is planning to develop a high deliverability salt dome storage field in St. Landry Parish, LA, to provide service in the Gulf Coast market. The 10.5 Bcf facility is expected to be developed in three phases with the first 3.5 Bcf of working capacity available in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Port Barre is conducting a non-binding open season to assess prospective customer interest in the storage facility, which would be located near the town of Port Barre. Storage services to be offered include storage peaking service, load balancing, parking and lending, emergency backup supply, and storage for arbitrage and hedging opportunities. The facility will be strategically located in close proximity to four interstate pipelines and one intrastate pipeline, including Florida Gas Transmission, ANR Pipeline, Gulf South, Texas Eastern and Enterprise.

Phase I of the project’s development will consist of three storage caverns with a total working gas capacity of 10.5 Bcf, last day withdrawal deliverability of 1 Bcf/d and last day injection capacity of 450 MMcf/d. The first cavern is expected to be in service in the fourth quarter of 2006 with the second and third caverns available in 2008 and 2009.

PBGS will accept non-binding bids for firm storage service from interested parties from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15. For more details contact Keith Schultz at International Gas Consulting (713) 782-4782 or Bob Edmundson at (504) 525-7423.

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