Authorization

Central Valley Gas Storage LLC last week requested authorization from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to construct and operate an underground natural gas storage facility north of Sacramento with initial capacity of 5.5 Bcf, which would be expandable to 8 Bcf.

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP’s Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP completed remediation of anomalies on its East Texas and Southeast pipeline projects and has received authorization to operate the pipelines at standard operating pressures, the company said. “We are performing additional tests and will continue to work cooperatively with PHMSA [Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration] in order to obtain the authority to operate these projects at higher operating pressures,” said Boardwalk CEO Rolf Gafvert. Late in June Boardwalk said its 356-mile Gulf Crossing Pipeline had completed remediation of pipe anomalies and had been given the green light by the Department of Transportation to operate the pipeline at normal operating pressures of up to 72% of the specified minimum yield strength (see NGI, July 6). The East Texas Pipeline consists of approximately 242 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline and originates near DeSoto Parish in northwestern Louisiana and proceeds to Harrisville, MS. The Southeast Expansion project consists of approximately 111 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline and originates near Harrisville and extends to an interconnect with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. in Choctaw Country, AL (Transco Station 85).

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP’s Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP completed remediation of anomalies on its East Texas and Southeast pipeline projects and has received authorization to operate the pipelines at standard operating pressures, the company said Tuesday.

Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) expects to have the REX-East segment of the pipeline in service to Lebanon, OH, for Monday’s gas day, the pipeline said Thursday. The pipeline also received authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to commence the service.

FERC last Thursday approved affiliates Oasis Pipeline LP’s (Oasis) and Oasis Pipe Line Co. Texas LP’s (Oasis Texas) request for Section 3 Natural Gas Act authorization and a presidential permit to build and operate pipeline facilities at the U.S.-Mexico border to export gas for use by gas-fired electric generation plants and industrial customers in northern Mexico. The border-crossing facilities were proposed as part of a much larger expansion of the Oasis system.

FERC Thursday approved affiliates Oasis Pipeline LP’s (Oasis) and Oasis Pipe Line Co. Texas LP’s (Oasis Texas) request for Section 3 Natural Gas Act authorization and a presidential permit to build and operate pipeline facilities at the U.S.-Mexico border to export gas for use by gas-fired electric generation plants and industrial customers in northern Mexico. The border-crossing facilities were proposed as part of a much larger expansion of the Oasis system.

Perryville Gas Storage LLC has asked FERC for authorization to build a new salt dome natural gas storage facility in Northeast Louisiana.

Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG) has asked FERC for authorization to commence service no later than June 29 on the Totem Gas Storage Field Project in Adams County, CO. The company said it was nearing completion of construction of the initial phase and injection of base gas. It proposes to then begin injections of up to 6 Bcf of working gas. The sole customer for the facility is Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCo).

Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG) has asked FERC for authorization to commence service no later than June 29 on the Totem Gas Storage Field Project in Adams County, CO. The company said it was nearing completion of construction of the initial phase and injection of base gas. It proposes to then begin injections of up to 6 Bcf of working gas. The sole customer for the facility is Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCo). “It is estimated that 90% to 100% of base gas will be injected by June 29,” CIG said in its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) filing. “Work on the gas dehydration and conditioning plant will continue for several months.” Sustained withdrawal of storage gas will be available after the successful injection of PSCo’s working gas. FERC approved the Totem Gas Storage facility just over a year ago. It involved the conversion of a depleted oil and gas field near Denver for storage use to meet the existing peak-day and load-growth needs for local gas distribution systems along the Colorado Front Range area. The total planned capacity was 10.7 Bcf, composed of 7 Bcf of working gas and 3.7 Bcf of base gas. Totem storage is designed to connect with CIG’s existing pipeline network via CIG’s 164-mile High Plains expansion project, which FERC approved in March 2008.