Conoco and R&B Falcon Corp.’s Deepwater Pathfinderultra-deep-water drillship began a five-year work program in theGulf of Mexico. The ship, which is the first new vessel capable ofdrilling in 10,000 feet of water, will fulfill a $400 milliondrilling program for Conoco. The ship is expected to drill up tofour wells in its first year of operation, with the firstexploratory well being drilled at Garden Banks Block 783. Conocohas interests in 295 deep-water leases.
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KN Begins Another Year of Choice
KN Energy began its Choice Gas program in Nebraska for1999-2000, which will enable nearly all of its service territorycustomers to choose their gas supplier. Last year more than 68% ofeligible Nebraskans selected their supplier under the program.”Choice Gas in Nebraska was very successful in its first year andshould be even better this year,” said Dan Watson, KN distributionoperations general manager.
Frontier Energy Begins North Carolina Gas Flow
Frontier Energy, North Carolina’s newest gas utility, beganflowing gas in Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. “With more than50 miles of newly installed gas main pressurized, we’re officiallyup and running,” said Andrew Rea, chairman of Frontier Energy. “Injust eight months, we were able to complete the first phase of oursystem and start serving customers.”
Frontier Energy Begins NC Gas Flow
Frontier Energy, North Carolina’s newest gas utility, beganflowing gas in Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. “With more than50 miles of newly installed gas main pressurized, we’re officiallyup and running,” said Andrew Rea, chairman of Frontier Energy. “Injust eight months, we were able to complete the first phase of oursystem and start serving customers.”
Lodi Storage Project Begins Market Test
Western Hub Properties, LLC (WHP) said subsidiary Lodi GasStorage is holding an open season Nov. 2-20 for 4 Bcf of workinggas capacity with an average of six cycles per year at its proposedgas storage facility in a depleted producing field near Lodi, CA,20 miles south of Sacramento. The facility would provide servicedirectly to Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) Line 401 nearthe Antioch Terminal in the heart of PG&E’s market. The companyplans to file an application in November to build the facility nextyear with service starting in November 1999.
Arkla Begins Unbundling Process
While neighboring LDC Oklahoma Natural Gas continues its attemptto stave off unbundling, Arkla moved forward last week with acollaborative process involving stakeholders that is intended toproduce a downstream unbundling plan next April with full retailcompetition by October 1999.
Tengasco Begins East TN Service
Gas has started flowing to industrial, residential and municipalcustomers on Tengasco Inc.’s East Tennessee pipeline system. TheEast Tennessee communities of Sneedville and Rogersville beganreceiving service one day after the State of Tennessee RegulatoryAuthority issued a permit allowing Tengasco to open the valves ofits 28-mile line. The line, which gathers Appalachian productionand carries it directly to endusers, currently is supplying about10 MMcf/d, but at maximum capacity can provide 48 MMcf/d.
Shell’s Chimichanga Begins Production
Shell Offshore said oil and gas production has begun from thefirst sub-salt well in the Enchilada field, which includes GardenBanks Blocks 83, 84, 127, 128 and 172 and is located about 185miles southwest of New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico. The sub-saltChimichanga well, is located on Garden Banks Block 127 and isjointly owned by Shell Offshore, Amerada Hess, and PennzoilExploration & Production.
Transportation Note
Constraints will be minor today at the Opal (WY) processingplant as Williams Field Services begins testing and maintenance.But at least half of the plant’s current 540 MMcf/d activity willbe off the market Tuesday as the plant is shut down for 12 hours.Reductions June 17-24 will be about 75 MMcf/d.
PNGTS Begins Construction
Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) beganconstruction of its 292-mile pipeline system. “We remain confidentthat PNGTS will be fully operational this fall, bringing thebenefits of this important new energy project to customersthroughout New England,” said Michael A. Minkos, president of PNGTSOperating Co.