Conjunction

The U.S. Circuit Court for the Tenth Circuit Friday reversed a lower court’s decision permanently enjoining enforcement of the Clinton administration’s “roadless rule,” which places restrictions on energy exploration and production, logging and other commercial activities on more than 58 million acres of forest lands.

Market demands anticipated in conjunction with below-normal temperatures forecast for much of its Northeast market area required that an Imbalance OFO be issued effective Sunday, Transco said. OFO conditions were the same as for one issued earlier this month (see Daily GPI, Jan. 12).

Citing anticipated demand in conjunction with below-normal temperatures forecast for much of its market area, Transco said an Imbalance OFO will become effective Tuesday. The OFO requires shippers to ensure that daily due-pipe imbalances be limited to 5% or 1,000 Dth, whichever is greater, Transco said. Due-shipper imbalances will not be subject to penalty. In addition, effective Sunday Transco was not allowing either makeup nominations for due-shipper imbalances or excess storage withdrawals under Rate Schedules GSS and WSS.

Portland, OR-based Northwest Natural Gas Co.’s proposed independent underground gas storage project in northern California in conjunction with local utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) as a minority (25%) partner carries increased risk for the utility, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P), which on Friday changed Northwest’s outlook to “negative” from a previous “stable” designation.

Portland, OR-based Northwest Natural Gas Co.’s proposed independent underground gas storage project in Northern California in conjunction with local utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) as a minority (25%) partner carries increased risk for the utility, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P), which on Friday changed Northwest’s outlook to “negative” from a previous “stable” designation.

Saying it anticipates “significant market load in conjunction with below-normal temperatures forecast for most of its market area,” starting Tuesday Transco will not allow any nominations to resolve due-shipper imbalances until further notice. Due-pipeline makeup nominations will be allowed, the pipeline said.

El Paso’s Tennessee Gas Pipeline declared a force majeure event Wednesday night in conjunction with a “possible leak” on its TTT Pipeline segment offshore Louisiana. Six Eugene Island meters and four Ship Shoal meters were required to shut in until further notice.

The Bush administration wants to lasso the immense power of the nation’s oceans to corral another form of alternative energy.

Magnum Hunter Resources Inc. on Monday doubled the amount of oil and natural gas properties it holds in its successful onshore core region of southeastern New Mexico with a $243 million purchase from EnCana Corp., which obtained the properties through its acquisition with Tom Brown Inc. The properties represent a 72% increase to Magnum Hunter’s existing 32 MMcfe/d of production from existing properties in New Mexico and approximately 11% of its current total net daily production.