Equipment

Northern Natural Gas, operator of the Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System (MOPS), said Friday it was nearing the return of service on MOPS dehydration equipment at the onshore Tivoli, TX, facility (see Daily GPI, Oct. 22) and expected it to be fully operational for Monday’s gas day.

What is purported to be the world’s largest plant to convert landfill methane gas to liquefied natural gas (LNG) for use in fueling trash trucks and other heavy equipment is getting ready to open later this year at a Northern California trash site, according to project partners New Jersey-based Linde North America and Waste Management Corp.

What is purported to be the world’s largest plant to convert landfill methane gas to liquefied natural gas (LNG) for use in fueling trash trucks and other heavy equipment is getting ready to open later this year at a Northern California trash site, according to project partners New Jersey-based Linde North America and Waste Management Corp.

Extreme cold sent demand to record levels Tuesday in Washington Gas Light’s service territory, and the company said some of its equipment in Potomac, MD, failed under the stress of high usage, leaving about 660 customers without gas for about 24 hours.

Talisman Energy Inc. said it hit pay dirt again in the Alberta Foothills. A new well tested at a gross rate of 14 MMcf/d but if left unrestricted by surface equipment would have had an estimated absolute open flow rate potential of 372 MMcf/d and estimated wellhead absolute open flow rate potential of 94 MMcf/d. The well is expected to be tied-in during the second quarter of 2007.

Talisman Energy Inc. said it hit pay dirt again in the Alberta Foothills. A new well tested at a gross rate of 14 MMcf/d but if left unrestricted by surface equipment would have had an estimated absolute open flow rate potential of 372 MMcf/d and estimated wellhead absolute open flow rate potential of 94 MMcf/d. The well is expected to be tied-in during the second quarter of 2007.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) said Thursday that it has approved a loan guarantee of up to $403.5 million to support the export of U.S. equipment and services to Qatar Liquefied Gas Co. 3 Ltd. (Qatargas 3) for supply development, transportation infrastructure and construction of a natural gas liquefaction plant and related facilities in Qatar.

Pioneer Drilling said it will buy seven drilling rigs and related equipment from Wolverine Drilling for $28 million in cash. Wolverine, based in Kenmare, ND, owns a fleet of seven mechanical 500 to 1,000 hp rigs, capable of drilling to depths of 7,000 to 15,000 feet. Robert S. Blackford, president of Wolverine, will become Pioneer’s North Dakota division manager. The transaction will increase Pioneer’s fleet to 43 drilling rigs. “We are very excited about expanding our operations into the prolific oil and gas regions of the Rocky Mountains,” said Pioneer CEO Stacy Locke. “Wolverine has operated in the Rockies since 1994 and has a significant presence in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. Six of the seven rigs are currently working under contract and we anticipate that the fleet utilization will remain high for the foreseeable future.”

Pioneer Drilling said it will buy seven drilling rigs and related equipment from Wolverine Drilling for $28 million in cash. Wolverine, based in Kenmare, ND, owns a fleet of seven mechanical 500 to 1,000 hp rigs, capable of drilling to depths of 7,000 to 15,000 feet. Robert S. Blackford, president of Wolverine, will become Pioneer’s North Dakota division manager. The transaction will increase Pioneer’s fleet to 43 drilling rigs. “We are very excited about expanding our operations into the prolific oil and gas regions of the Rocky Mountains,” said Pioneer CEO Stacy Locke. “Wolverine has operated in the Rockies since 1994 and has a significant presence in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. Six of the seven rigs are currently working under contract and we anticipate that the fleet utilization will remain high for the foreseeable future.”