Defers

Canadian natural gas field contractors are braced for their second straight lean year while the industry defers drilling until supply gluts burn off and the Alberta government retools development policies.

El Paso Corp. has notified FERC that an application for its Blue Atlantic Transmission pipeline project will be delayed six months or longer due to a slowdown in the development and production of natural gas supplies off the coast of Nova Scotia.

Duke Energy Gas Transmission told shippers on the former southern Westcoast mainline in British Columbia that it has deferred construction of its proposed expansion project in an effort to minimize costs and because some unexpected capacity became available.

El Paso Corp. has notified FERC that an application for its Blue Atlantic Transmission pipeline project will be delayed six months or longer due to a slowdown in the development and production of natural gas supplies off the coast of Nova Scotia.

Duke Energy Gas Transmission told shippers on the former southern Westcoast mainline in British Columbia that it has deferred construction of its proposed expansion project in an effort to minimize costs and because some unexpected capacity became available.

Responding to a request from El Paso Corp., California regulators and other parties, FERC last week agreed to push back its decision in the high-profile case alleging manipulation of natural gas prices in California by 45 days to give the parties time to submit a formal settlement offer and seek dismissal of the charges.

NRG Energy Inc. last Monday said that it was deferring the $53.5 million principal payment due on its NRG Northeast Generating LLC bond series, but in a sliver of good news the financially troubled generator said last week it made the $24.7 million interest payment due on the series.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said last Thursday that a final decision on whether to revoke a certificate allowing Williams to reactivate and expand its Cove Point liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal plant in Maryland won’t be made until late January.

Citing its failure to comply with certain environmental requirements, FERC staff has denied Petal Gas Storage LLC’s request to proceed with the construction of a 59-mile, 36-inch pipeline and associated facilities that would connect its expanding storage facilities in Hattiesburg, MS, with three interstate gas pipelines.