Condition

El Paso implemented a systemwide Strained Operating Condition (SOC) for Wednesday’s gas day, setting the tolerance for negative daily imbalances at 10%. Linepack on Tuesday afternoon, when the SOC was announced, was running 100 MMcf lower than the day before, the pipeline said. Its Washington Ranch storage facility continued to experience maximum withdrawals. “Maximum deliverability from Washington Ranch continues to fall with declining inventory,” El Paso said, adding that since July 10, maximum withdrawal rates had dropped by more than 20%.

El Paso set an imbalance threshold of 5% in declaring a systemwide Strained Operating Condition (SOC) Wednesday. The pipeline said it has been experiencing declining linepack as a result of takes that are in excess of scheduled quantities and underperforming receipt volumes. Linepack continues to decline despite the Washington Ranch storage facility operating at maximum withdrawal capacity, El Paso said. Prior to announcing the SOC, it said the supply shortfall in the San Juan Basin was about 400 MMcf/d.

Saying operating conditions on its South Mainline had improved, El Paso lifted Thursday afternoon the Strained Operating Condition (SOC) that it had implemented Tuesday (see Daily GPI, Aug. 24). “Actions by shippers to balance their supply and demand, along with maximal withdrawal volumes from Washington Ranch Storage Facility, have restored south system linepack to a level at which system integrity is not currently threatened,” El Paso said.

El Paso warned customers Tuesday of the possibility that a Strained Operating Condition may need to be issued for Wednesday’s gas day, saying it is experiencing low linepack on the South Mainline and the Washington Ranch storage facility is experiencing maximum withdrawals. “Shippers can obtain supplies at Waha where capacity is operationally available,” the pipeline said.

CIG had hoped that announcing plans late last week to implement a Strained Operating Condition (SOC) notice Tuesday (see Daily GPI, Nov. 16) would enhance its anticipated limited ability to handle imbalances caused by variations between scheduled receipts/deliveries and actual gas flow, as well as any related excess injections into storage. But, the pipeline said late Monday afternoon, “Since that posting, CIG’s storage injection situation has not improved and inventory levels continue to approach operational limits.” Thus it will change the SOC notice to a full-fledged OFO effective with the start of Wednesday’s gas day until further notice. Under the OFO, “shippers should anticipate that CIG will require all transportation transactions to be in balance between receipts and deliveries, and all shippers should maintain close contact with their suppliers and markets.” Shippers also were asked to ensure that CIG has up-to-date contact names and phone numbers for their accounts. See the bulletin board for further details.

CIG had hoped that announcing plans late last week to implement a Strained Operating Condition (SOC) notice Tuesday (see Daily GPI, Nov. 16) would enhance its anticipated limited ability to handle imbalances caused by variations between scheduled receipts/deliveries and actual gas flow, as well as any related excess injections into storage. But, the pipeline said late Monday afternoon, “Since that posting, CIG’s storage injection situation has not improved and inventory levels continue to approach operational limits.” Thus it will change the SOC notice to a full-fledged OFO effective with the start of Wednesday’s gas day until further notice. Under the OFO, “shippers should anticipate that CIG will require all transportation transactions to be in balance between receipts and deliveries, and all shippers should maintain close contact with their suppliers and markets.” Shippers also were asked to ensure that CIG has up-to-date contact names and phone numbers for their accounts. See the bulletin board for further details.

Due to warmer than expected weather in its market area, CIG plans to declare a Strained Operating Condition on its transmission system effective Tuesday until further notice. “Because of currently high storage inventory levels and reduced market requirements generally experienced with warmer weather conditions, CIG has limited ability to handle oversupply or underdelivery imbalances,” the pipeline said. “In particular, all storage customers should adjust flowing supplies to ensure that storage injections and total inventory levels remain at or below contractual limits.”

Due to warmer than expected weather in its market area, CIG plans to declare a Strained Operating Condition on its transmission system effective Tuesday until further notice. “Because of currently high storage inventory levels and reduced market requirements generally experienced with warmer weather conditions, CIG has limited ability to handle oversupply or underdelivery imbalances,” the pipeline said. “In particular, all storage customers should adjust flowing supplies to ensure that storage injections and total inventory levels remain at or below contractual limits.”

CIG declared a Strained Operating Condition (SOC) for its Uintah and Parachute Laterals, effective last Saturday until further notice. The pipeline said that due to a high rate of unconfirmed transactions at Uintah delivery points, it “has recently experienced a critical oversupply situation on that portion of its system, resulting in higher than desired pressures and operating problems for the attached production areas.” The capacity limitations on Uintah and Parachute in turn restricted CIG’s ability to handle imbalances caused by unconfirmed nominations in that area. The SOC requires that all transactions in the affected segments be in balance between receipts and deliveries. CIG said it does not anticipate a need to issue an OFO as long as market and supply balance can be managed on the laterals.