Called

CNG Transmission Corp. last week called on FERC to dismiss thepending application of potential competitor Independence Pipeline,claiming that the 400-mile project was based on out-dated andfaulty demand projections for the Northeast gas market and lackedbinding precedent agreements. In addition, it said Independence hasdrawn “substantial opposition” from affected landowners andenvironmental groups.

CNG Transmission Corp. last week called on FERC to dismiss thepending application of potential competitor Independence Pipeline,claiming that the 400-mile project was based on out-dated andfaulty demand projections for the Northeast gas market and lackedbinding precedent agreements. In addition, it said Independence hasdrawn “substantial opposition” from affected landowners andenvironmental groups.

Westcoast Energy Inc. last week challenged BC Gas’ request for an abbreviated approval process for the Southern Crossing pipeline proposal and called for a full public review of the re-filed proposal by BC Gas to build a $350 million pipeline across Southern British Columbia. Westcoast maintains the Southern Crossing project is too expensive and that there are other alternatives.

Fueled by what one veteran trader called one of the mostdramatic price moves in the history of the natural gas market,futures prices rallied Monday as the prompt January contractsettled up 12.3 cents to $2.101. But that daily change paled incomparison to the enormous advances seen in the cash market wheredaily gains registered more than a half-dollar for many pipes.Forecasts calling for cooler temperatures for most of the countryand undervalued cash prices were reasons for the market strength,sources agreed.

The Gas Research Institute (GRI) and the Electric Power ResearchInstitute (EPRI) are forming a partnership, called Global EnergyPartners, with engineering/large project management firm DMJM tooffer program management services to public agencies that fundpublic-benefit energy programs aimed at promoting energyefficiency.

A regulatory expert last week called on FERC to impose amoratorium on awarding market-based rates for primarytransportation capacity due to the expected continued “monopoly”nature of major interstate pipelines.

A Houston-based producer summarized his gas market outlookWednesday: “It’s pretty ugly for August, even uglier forSeptember.” Although end-users might consider the picture moreattractive, all could agree that prices were dropping for bothincremental August and September bidweek business.

Lomak Petroleum and Domain Energy completed their merger andformation of a new company called Range Resources, which will havea 1 Tcf reserve base and $1 billion in total assets. The reservesare 72% natural gas with daily production at 9,248 b/d of oil andliquids and 161 MMcf/d of gas.

ANR Pipeline has called on FERC to dismiss TransCanadaPipeLines’s and Nicor’s Viking Voyageur Project application on fileat the Commission, a move that could prevent the two sponsors fromusing it as the basis for a proposal to build a radically alteredproject.