Department

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory(NETL) last week issued a draft solicitation seeking natural gasindustry comments on a $10-million, three-year program to developtechnology innovations to strengthen the reliability of the U.S.gas pipeline grid.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory(NETL) last week issued a draft solicitation seeking natural gasindustry comments on a $10-million, three-year program to developtechnology innovations to strengthen the reliability of the U.S.gas pipeline grid.

In the good news department: Chevron Canada Resources said thatits reported natural gas production volumes from its Fort LiardK-29 well in the southwestern part of the Northwest Territories areabout 25 MMcf/d more than it had estimated.

Five natural gas projects valued at more than $7 million willget partial funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, which willspend $4.7 million to fund innovations in the industry. Theprojects include a 3D seismic imaging study on deep water hydratesin the Gulf of Mexico and another on tools that will drill inarctic conditions.

Five natural gas projects valued at more than $7 million willget partial funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, which willspend $4.7 million to fund innovations in the industry. Theprojects include a 3D seismic imaging study on deep water hydratesin the Gulf of Mexico and another on tools that will drill inarctic conditions.

The Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety(OPS) has issued an industry-wide bulletin advising operators andowners of gas transmission pipelines to review their monitoringprograms and operations for detecting the presence of internalcorrosion on their systems.

The Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safetyreported yesterday that El Paso Natural Gas has submitted theresults of its tests on the one line (Line 1110) that was the leastaffected by the Aug. 19 explosion and fire on El Paso’s South Mainsystem, as well as a plan for returning the line back to operation.

Stacey L. Gerard has been named associate administrator for theDepartment of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). Shepreviously was director of the Office of Policy, Regulations andTraining in the OPS.

The fifth sale of blocks in the Western Gulf of Mexico has beenset for Aug. 23 in New Orleans by the U.S. Department of Interior’sMinerals Management Service (MMS). The Final Notice of Sale,published in yesterday’s Federal Register, covers 3,789 availableblocks encompassing about 20.61 million acres in the Western Gulf’sOuter Continental Shelf Planning Area offshore Texas, and in deeperwaters offshore Louisiana. Blocks are located from nine to 200miles offshore in water depths ranging from eight meters to morethan 3,000 meters. The MMS said this is the first Western Gulf saleto require the use of electronic funds transfer procedures for1/5th bonus bids. Current OCS lessees and operators may securepayment using a single bid form; others may be required to securethe EFT payment another way. The Sale Notice Package is availableon the MMS Internet site atwww.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lsesale/lsesale.html, or from the Gulf ofMexico Region Public Information Unit, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., NewOrleans, LA 70123-2394. You can also call 504-736-2519 or800-200-GULF.