Considers

El Paso Corp. said that it has received several inquires regarding the expandability of the Willcox Lateral to serve new markets off the east leg of the lateral. Of the 130,000 Mcf/d of capacity on the Willcox Lateral, 92,166 Mcf/d has been subscribed, leaving 37,834 Mcf/d of un-subscribed capacity available. The lateral runs 60 miles from the El Paso mainline in Cochise County, AZ, to border crossing facilities and is aimed at serving several existing and proposed gas-fired power plants in Mexico’s northern state of Sonora.

As the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) considers whether to overhaul or eliminate its integrated resource planning (IRP) requirements for electric utilities in the state, the state commission is being urged to create a process that does not limit the resource options of utilities, while also allowing the PUC to continue its support of demand-side programs, among other things.

As the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) considers whether to overhaul or eliminate its integrated resource planning (IRP) requirements for electric utilities in the state, the state commission is being urged to create a process that does not limit the resource options of utilities, while also allowing the PUC to continue its support of demand-side programs, among other things.

Williams Cos. CEO Cuba Wadlington Jr. said last week that his company is committing itself to build a pipeline to deliver natural gas from the North Slope to markets in Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48, and announced a feasibility study has begun that will look at new petrochemical investments in Alaska, which could finance the pipeline.

Alberta Energy’s Wild Goose Storage subsidiary in California is considering a major expansion that could nearly triple the size of its natural gas storage facility in Butte County, near Gridley, CA. The company has launched an open season for customer sign-ups that will run until May 22.

Alberta Energy’s Wild Goose Storage subsidiary in California is considering a major expansion that could nearly triple the size of its natural gas storage facility in Butte County, near Gridley, CA. The company has launched an open season for customer sign-ups that will run until May 22.

In another indication that liquefied natural gas could becomemore than a niche fuel in North America, San Francisco-basedChevron said yesterday it is “reviewing options” for importing LNGto serve the West Coast. If the project proves economically viable,Chevron said its first supplies could arrive by 2005.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) offeredPacific Gas and Electric half a loaf again last week, extendingfrom three months to six months its authorization for the utilityto sign gas supply contracts securitized by gas customer revenue.Meanwhile, not satisfied with their handiwork on the electric side,California politicians said they might have to get into gaspurchasing to shore up new generation requirements.

Interest in pipeline capacity auctions is far from dead at theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission. Just ask FERC’s Kevin Madden,who hasn’t given up on them and thinks they have a major role toplay in the natural gas industry.