Approval

El Paso Natural Gas has received approval from the U.S. Departmentof Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) to conduct moreinternal inspections on its rebuilt New Mexico pipeline, whichruptured August 19 killing 11 people (see Daily GPI, Aug. 22). Since the explosion, flowsthrough the line, which runs from West Texas to California, have beenreduced to 85% capacity, or about 920 MMcf/d.

The North Baja Pipeline Project moved to within one step of becoming reality late last week as Mexico’s Comision Reguladora de Energia (CRE) issued a natural gas transportation permit to Sempra Energy International for the construction of the 135-mile Mexican segment of the $230 million, 215-mile Arizona-to-Mexico pipeline.

El Paso Energy Corp. last week completed its acquisition of some PG&E GT transmission lines following approval of a consent agreement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Texas Attorney General. El Paso Field Services will pick up 8,500 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines that transport 2.8 Bcf/d, nine natural gas processing plants that now process 1.5 Bcf/d and a 7.2 Bcf natural gas storage field.

El Paso Natural Gas has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) to conduct more internal inspections on its rebuilt New Mexico pipeline, which ruptured August 19 killing 11 people (see NGI, Special Report). Since the explosion, flows through the line, which runs from West Texas to California, have been reduced to 85% capacity, to a rate of about 920 MMcf/d.

The North Baja Pipeline Project moved to within one step ofbecoming reality yesterday as Mexico’s Comision Reguladora deEnergia (CRE) issued a natural gas transportation permit to SempraEnergy International for the construction of the 135-mile Mexicansegment of the $230 million, 215-mile Arizona to Mexico pipeline.

After struggling through an extended state approval process thatwas only revitalized earlier in the year with a uniquemobile-source air emissions credit deal, San Francisco-basedPG&E Corp. Monday completed a deal to sell the development andoperating rights for its proposed 500 MW Otay Mesa power projectsouth of San Diego to Calpine Corp., San Jose, CA, the aggressivemerchant power plant developer.

Following an approval handed down by the Virginia StateCorporation Commission, AGL Energy Services will now provide energyservices including natural gas acquisition and gas transportationmanagement to Norfolk-based Virginia Natural Gas’ 230,000 customersin southeastern Virginia.

If the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality slows downthe permit approval process for companies eager to begin coal bedmethane projects in the state, the largest producers already thereare expected to have no trouble meeting their drilling schedulesthrough at least the first quarter of 2001. Anticipating thehearings, many had already moved proposed drilling projects for2001 through the regulatory process.

Following an approval handed down by the Virginia StateCorporation Commission last week, AGL Energy Services will nowprovide energy services including natural gas acquisition and gastransportation management to Norfolk-based Virginia Natural Gas’230,000 customers in southeastern Virginia.