Diameter

A Nova Gas Transmission 12-inch-diameter gathering line explodedSept. 2, causing a fire that injured a pipeline employee. Theemployee was treated and released. The rupture, which occurred onthe northwestern part of Nova’s Alberta pipeline system about 60miles north of Fairview, AB also forced the curtailment of about 50MMcf/d of gas.

A Nova Gas Transmission 12-inch-diameter gathering line explodedover the weekend, causing a fire that injured a pipeline employee.The employee was treated and released. The rupture, which occurredon the northwestern part of Nova’s Alberta pipeline system about 60miles north of Fairview, also forced the curtailment of about 50MMcf/d of gas.

BC Gas selected Marine Pipeline Construction, a division of MurphyPipeline Inc., as its contractor for the 188-mile, 24-inch diameterSouthern Crossing gas pipeline. The contractor will begin movingequipment immediately to locations along the pipeline route, whichstretches from Oliver to Yahk, BC. Construction is expected to beginbefore June 1 and be completed by November. The C$377 million projectwill be designed to initially transport 250 MMcf/d with room forexpansion to 600 MMcf/d. Addition details are available in a pdffile on BC Gas’web site.

Major producers and utilities registered strong protests toTrunkline Gas Co.’s proposal to spin down a 720-mile portion of its26-inch diameter mainline, saying that while this action may be inthe pipeline’s best interest it’s not “in the public interest.”

Questar Pipeline bought Enron Overthrust Pipeline Co.’s 18%interest in the Overthrust Pipeline effective Jan. 1, 2000. Thetransaction gives Questar Pipeline a 72% interest in the 88-mile,36-inch-diameter pipeline, which runs from the Whitney Canyon area— north of Evanston, WY, — to Rock Springs, WY. QuestarPipeline designed and built the Overthrust Pipeline, and hasoperated it since its completion in October 1982. Other partnersare Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America and Colorado Interstate GasCo. The Overthrust Pipeline is a segment of the 793-mileTrailblazer system, which runs from southwestern Wyoming toBeatrice, NE. “Increased ownership of the Overthrust Pipeline is anatural fit for us,” said Questar Pipeline President Nick Rose.”Its location in our service territory and proximity to ourfacilities and supply sources will enhance the services weprovide.”

Columbia Gas Transmission said it opened a data room to provideinformation on 545 miles of small-diameter gas gathering pipelines,called the CHEWP system, and the Holbrook Storage Field, which has1.5 Bcf of total capacity in northern West Virginia andsouthwestern Pennsylvania. Anyone interested in the assets shouldmake an appointment to visit the data room in Charleston, WVA, bycalling (304) 357-2282.

United Cities Gas Co.’s two-inch diameter, 7.2 MMcf per hour gasline that connects with a town border station in Wytheville, VAexploded Sunday morning, destroying a house and business. No onewas killed in the accident, but 1,600 residents of Wytheville hadtheir heat cut off and some have not had it restored. The cause ofthe fire is still under investigation.

The Coastal Corp.’s Wyoming Interstate Co. (WIC) filed anapplication with the FERC for construction of the Medicine BowLateral, a new 134-mile, 24-inch diameter gas pipeline designed toprovide transportation access to the developing Powder River Basinin Wyoming and Montana. Medicine Bow will receive Powder Rivercoal-bed methane gas from pipelines near Glenrock, WY, andtransport it to WIC’s mainline, west of Cheyenne, WY.

Western Gas Resources and an affiliate of Colorado InterstateGas announced plans to build a 90-mile 20-inch diameter gatheringsystem and a treating facility to serve the Powder River Basin ofWyoming. The line will be designed to reach the heart of thecoalbed methane development in Campbell and Converse Counties innortheast Wyoming. The system would have an initial capacity of 200MMcf/d, but anticipated participation by third parties will likelycause the system design to be extended and expanded, the companiessaid.