Expanding

California regulators this week could start to remove some of the uncertainty surrounding the in-state markets in the first of a series of natural gas infrastructure decisions that ultimately could greatly expand the two major utility intrastate transmission/storage systems.

NiSource Inc., headquartered in Merrillville, IN, is expanding its Washington, D.C. presence to enhance the company’s advocacy efforts on federal government issues, and beginning June 4, Rebecca T. Sczudlo will be the company’s vice president of federal government affairs. Sczudlo has 20 years experience in government affairs and communications, including seven years as a staff member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She also has worked for Shell Oil Co. as a government affairs representative. She will report to NiSource CEO Gary Neale on policy matters and to Ramon Arredondo, assistant to Neale, administratively.

NiSource Inc., headquartered in Merrillville, IN, is expanding its Washington, D.C. presence to enhance the company’s advocacy efforts on federal government issues, and beginning June 4, Rebecca T. Sczudlo will be the company’s vice president of federal government affairs. Sczudlo has 20 years experience in government affairs and communications, including seven years as a staff member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She also has worked for Shell Oil Co. as a government affairs representative. She will report to NiSource CEO Gary Neale on policy matters and to Ramon Arredondo, assistant to Neale, administratively.

Union Gas launched an open season for up to 6.5 Bcf of long-term working storage capacity and said it was willing to consider expanding if market demand is sufficient. The storage space available in the open season is for periods of three years or greater with injections beginning in April 2002. Bids are due July 31 and the capacity will be awarded by Aug. 31.

Union Gas launched an open season for up to 6.5 Bcf of long-term working storage capacity and said it was willing to consider expanding if market demand is sufficient. The storage space available in the open season is for periods of three years or greater with injections beginning in April 2002. Bids are due July 31 and the capacity will be awarded by Aug. 31.

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America has proposed expanding a portion of its existing system capacity in southeastern New Mexico to increase deliveries to California. Natural wants to add new compression on a leased basis to its Indian Basin Lateral and other facilities to make deliveries of up to 42,000 Dth/d by the fourth quarter of 2001 through Transwestern Pipeline in Eddy County, NM.

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America has proposed expanding a portion of its existing system capacity in southeastern New Mexico to increase deliveries to California. Natural wants to add new compression on a leased basis to its Indian Basin Lateral and other facilities to make deliveries of up to 42,000 Dth/d by the fourth quarter of 2001 through Transwestern Pipeline in Eddy County, NM.

Colorado Interstate Gas received a FERC certificate Wednesday toexpand its Raton Basin facilities to keep pace with expandingcoal-bed methane production. CIG will construct two new compressorstations, add to a third, and build a total of 69 miles of pipe todeliver 85 MMcf/d into major interstate lines.

TransCanada PipeLines and Nova Gas Transmission (NGTL) toldtheir shippers they are looking into expanding their pipelinesystems to increase deliveries to the Pacific Northwest. Thecompanies plan to assess the feasibility of expansions of NGTL andTransCanada’s BC System in British Columbia and are offeringshippers the opportunity to “rationalize” their firm contractholdings on those systems effective November 2002.