Frequent

Blackouts are expected to become more frequent worldwide as power plants age and investment dries up, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey of 119 investors and executives at utilities in 36 countries.

In a refrain that has grown louder and more frequent over the last two years, two large industrial associations urged the federal government last Wednesday to take action that directly addresses high natural gas prices, price volatility and domestic natural gas supply.

In a refrain that has grown louder and more frequent over the last two years, two large industrial associations urged the federal government Wednesday to take action that directly addresses high natural gas prices, price volatility and domestic natural gas supply.

In a refrain that has grown louder and more frequent over the last two years, two large industrial associations urged the federal government Wednesday to take action that directly addresses high natural gas prices, price volatility and domestic natural gas supply.

Noting “the high volume of liquid recovered during the past weekend,” Questar said it has implemented more frequent pigging operations on its Southern System between Fidlar Station and Price, UT. The pipeline expects to accomplish pigging operations between the Riverbend area and Price with little or no customer impact, but said the work from Fidlar to the Riverbend area requires a change in flow direction. To facilitate the Riverbend-to-Fidlar pigging scheduled for Thursday, Questar has identified six production points in the area — Mesa Tap, Kings Canyon, Island 52-3, Hill Creek, Seep Ridge and Cottonwood Wash Tap — with hydrocarbon dew point levels in excess of 50 degrees F. It was accepting no nominations from those points for Thursday’s gas day said but said it would resume taking nominations there effective with Intraday 2 (Cycle 4) scheduling. Based on the liquids recovered during Southern System pigging operations, Questar will evaluate future nomination limitations from receipt points with high hydrocarbon dew points.

Signaling what may be a frequent question-and-answer in the industry in the near future, Sempra Energy’s CEO was hit Thursday with questions from financial analysts on the firm’s exposure to Enron Corp. in its future business dealings as part of a third-quarter earnings conference call.

Hurricane Georges took aim at the Gulf of Mexico Friday afterpassing the southern tip of Florida, and producers and pipelineswere responding. The pace of platform evacuations and productionshut-ins accelerated rapidly following tentative starts in theMobile Bay area Thursday. Evacuation reports extended as far westas the West Cameron area off southwest Louisiana. As of late Fridayafternoon a hurricane watch was in effect from Morgan City, LA, toSt. Marks, FL.