The major explosion on the El Paso Natural Gas system in NewMexico last August was a “major shock” to gas supplies in theSouthwest and placed an “extreme burden” on the region’s pipelinenetwork. Although gas prices in southern California soaredtemporarily, “widespread shortages” were avoided due to a”combination of market adjustments,” such as reliance on gas fromstorage, alternate transportation routing and fuel switching, theEnergy Information Administration said last week.
Explosion
Articles from Explosion
Price Rises Likely to Get Steeper After Screen Explosion
Even with much of its cold weather support disappearing, thecash market still found cause for moderate bullishness Wednesday.But that’s expected to pale in comparison to the fireworks thatsources were predicting for today after the screen exploded withgains of more than 35 cents in both the November and Decembercontracts following AGA’s below-expectations storage report.
October 12, 2000
DOE: El Paso Blast Reveals Need for ‘Modern’ Pipes
The explosion and fire on El Paso Natural Gas’ system insoutheast New Mexico in August, which killed 12 people, underscoresthe need for a newer gas pipeline infrastructure in the UnitedStates, according to a Department of Energy (DOE) report releasedthis week.
September 29, 2000
BLM Expands Oil Pipeline Review
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is taking no chances in thewake of the Carlsbad, NM, natural gas pipeline explosion. It hasordered a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposalto refurbish and put back into service the Equilon Pipeline, a406-mile, 42-year old crude oil pipeline from Odessa, TX toBloomfield, NM.
August 31, 2000
Correction
NGI reported Monday that the 12th victim of the Aug. 19explosion and fire on El Paso Natural Gas had died Friday based onmisinformation received during an interview with Stacey Gerard,deputy administrator of the Department of Transportation’s Officeof Pipeline Safety (OPS). “We got an internal call that the person[12th victim] had died. I mean that’s really all we’re going by,”said DOT spokeswoman Debbie Hinz in trying to explain the erroryesterday. The sole survivor of the New Mexico blast, Amanda Smith,25, remains in critical condition at the University Medical Centerin Lubbock, TX.
August 29, 2000
El Paso Explosion Takes 500 MMcf/d Off Market
About 1 Bcf/d of flow on El Paso’s South Mainline downstream ofPecos River (NM) Station ceased after the pipeline exploded earlySaturday, killing 10 people and seriously injuring two others at anearby campsite (see related reports:wrap-up, politics).
August 22, 2000
Transportation Notes
El Paso Natural Gas declared an Unauthorized Overpull Penaltysituation Sunday following an explosion Saturday morning on its1100 Line on the suction side of the Pecos River Station south ofCarlsbad, NM (see related stories in this issue). The OFO wasextended through Monday and will remain effective until furthernotice. Washington Ranch Storage Field, downstream of the rupture,was experiencing maximum withdrawals, the pipeline said. AffiliateEl Paso Field Services shut in its Carlsbad gathering system untilfurther notice because EPNG was physically unable to acceptreceipts there.
August 22, 2000
Transportation Notes
Williams Field Services declared force majeure following aThursday morning fire and explosion at its Opal (WY) Lean OilPlant. The fire started about 6:30 a.m. MDT and a rich-oil heaterexploded shortly thereafter. The Lean Oil Plant was removed fromservice but two cryogenic units remained on-line. Volumes throughOpal were reduced to 430 MMcf/d from a normal maximum capacity of700 MMcf/d. However, WFS said it “does not anticipate significantreductions” in overall gas gathered behind the plant or in tailgatedeliveries to interconnecting pipelines.
October 4, 1999
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