The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) settled a Clean Water Act (CWA) case for wetlands violations, requiring PDC Mountaineer (PDCM) to pay a penalty of $177,500 to resolve violations involving construction activities at Marcellus Shale gas extraction facilities in northern West Virginia. According to EPA, Bridgeport, WV-based PDCM failed to apply for necessary permits to discharge fill materials into wetlands or streams in Harrison County, WV. PDCM, which also agreed to restore and/or complete mitigation projects at four sites in the state pursuant to separate CWA orders, did not admit to violating the CWA. Earlier this month, PDC Energy reported that PDCM, a joint venture of PDC and Lime Rock Partners V LP, completed three horizontal Marcellus wells since mid-September. The wells were expected to be turned-in-line by year’s end, once a permit for a gathering line river crossing is received, PDC said.
Crossing
Articles from Crossing
Industry Brief
El Paso Natural Gas Co. has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to increase the export capacity of the Samalayuca border-crossing line in El Paso County, TX, to 544,500 Mcf/d from 308,000 Mcf/d. El Paso is seeking modification of its existing presidential permit to allow for additional natural gas flows into Mexico for existing El Paso customers on an interruptible basis, an El Paso spokesman said. MGI Supply Ltd., a subsidiary of Pemex Gas y Petroquimica Basica, which supplies natural gas to Pemex, recently approached El Paso requesting an immediate increase in natural gas export capacity for shippers from the U.S. to meet earlier than anticipated load growth in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. El Paso has determined that the 21-mile, 24-inch diameter Samalayuca line is physically capable of flowing a maximum of 544,500 Mcf/d without adding new facilities to the existing upstream facilities.
Despite Delays, Keystone to Get OK, TransCanada CEO Says
Despite last Thursday’s announced delay in U.S. State Department processing and earlier criticisms of inflated economic benefits from the project (see Shale Daily, Nov. 9), the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Alberta, Canada to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico ultimately should be approved, according to project sponsor TransCanada.
Industry Briefs
As of last Friday Enterprise Products Partners was awaiting a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform a directional drill at a pipeline crossing of the Missouri River at Decatur, NE, to enable inspection and repairs of two natural gas liquids pipelines that were shut in Aug. 13 following damage caused by flooding on the river. The eight-inch diameter pipelines — one carrying propane and one carrying natural gasoline — run from Conway, KS, to Minnesota and are expected to be out for at least two months. The pipelines are on the western leg of the Conway North System, which is part of Enterprise’s Mid-America Pipeline.
FERC OKs Export of Marcellus Gas on Tennessee Pipeline
FERC last Monday approved Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s application to use its border-crossing facilities between the United States and Canada to export Marcellus Shale gas.
FERC OKs Export of Marcellus Gas to Canada on Tennessee Pipeline
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Monday approved Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s application to use its border-crossing facilities between the United States and Canada to export Marcellus Shale gas.
Transportation Notes
Columbia Gas said it was investigating a leak on Line AM-130 located near the Middle Fork stream crossing. “Due to this emergency, firm receipts will have to be shut in” starting Thursday morning, the pipeline said, estimating that the outage will last two to seven days. The outage is near the Poca River in the vicinity of Charleston, WV. All production behind Walgrove and north of the Poca River will be shut in, affecting three firm production meters, Columbia said.
Williams, BC Hydro End Georgia Strait Pipeline Project
A unit of Williams announced last Monday an agreement to discontinue the development of the troubled Georgia Strait Crossing pipeline project to serve power generators on Vancouver Island in Canada.
Williams, BC Hydro End Georgia Strait Pipeline Project
A unit of Williams announced Monday an agreement to discontinue the development of the troubled Georgia Strait Crossing pipeline project to serve power generators on Vancouver Island in Canada.
Appeals Court Rules Owners Must Pay to Relocate Pipes Crossing Houston Ship Channel
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a district court ruling and unanimously agreed that pipeline owners — and not the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) — must pay to relocate oil, gas and products pipelines that cross the Houston Ship Channel.
