Experienced

Three experienced state energy officials were selected by Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Corbett on Tuesday to helm the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and another was tapped as the state’s first Energy Executive.

Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Corbett on Tuesday selected three experienced state officials to oversee the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and named another as the state’s first Energy Executive.

Pressure pumping companies experienced a “monster” year in 2010 but even with new equipment being readied, demand is forecast to increase through the year, driven by growth in horizontal drilling and increased hydraulic fracturing (fracking) intensity, energy analysts said Monday.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Thursday took steps to counter utility residential customer shutoffs, which were experienced earlier in the year among customers of the state’s major private-sector utilities. The action was prompted by what many think is fallout from the continuing economic recession and double-digit unemployment levels.

A North Texas pipeline partly owned by Enterprise Products Partners LP that experienced an explosion and fire after being struck by a utility crew early last month was not marked when crews began digging, according to testimony by Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Enterprise told NGI it responded to a contractor request for pipeline marking and was told the digging had already been completed.

A North Texas pipeline partly owned by Enterprise Products Partners LP that experienced an explosion and fire after being struck by a utility crew early last month was not marked when crews began digging, according to testimony by Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Enterprise told NGI it responded to a contractor request for pipeline marking and was told the digging had already been completed.

Natural gas futures traders experienced a bit of deja vu as the April contract followed Tuesday’s 4.4-cent decline with another 4.4-cent reduction for Wednesday, leaving the prompt-month contract to close at $4.303.

Natural gas futures traders experienced a bit of deja vu as the April contract followed Tuesday’s 4.4-cent decline with another 4.4-cent reduction for Wednesday, leaving the prompt-month contract to close at $4.303.

El Paso said Thursday it had experienced an overnight rupture on Line 1102 just north of the Amarillo Compressor Station in the Texas Panhandle. The line was shut in between the Amarillo and Dumas stations for investigation, which required the additional shut-ins of one receipt point and three delivery points. El Paso declared a force majeure. Due to the isolation of Line 1102 in this area, the pipeline said, no gas can be scheduled from Plains to locations north of the Amarillo station. Also, delivery locations north of the station were required to adjust their supply sources in Cycle 3 nominations for Thursday’s gas day to one of three receipt points in the Anadarko Basin area. In an updated notice prompted by customer inquiries about whether gas moving south into Amarillo was affected as well as gas moving north from the station, El Paso clarified that it is unable to schedule any gas in either direction through the rupture area.