Groups

While Washington D.C.-based trade groups for gas pipelines andLDCs have had some defections recently, the association for majorgas producers anticipates a small rise in its membership for nextyear.

Sonat is canceling today an OFO Type 3 that was implemented Tuesdayfor seven market-area groups (see Daily GPI, Dec. 28). The pipeline also said it hadresolved mechanical problems at the Bear Creek (LA) Storage Field.

Based on weather forecasts and projected demand, Sonat isimplementing an OFO Type 3 today for seven system groups:Birmingham Group, South Main Zone 2, Atlanta Group, South Main Zone3, East of Wrens, Brunswick Line and Savannah Line.

A broad coalition of natural gas and electric trade groups haveasked FERC to reconsider a July rehearing decision that prompted itto purge any reference to immediate relief from its final rule oncomplaint procedures.

A broad coalition of gas and electric trade groups has askedFERC to reconsider a July rehearing decision that prompted it topurge any reference to immediate relief from its final rule oncomplaint procedures.

Paris-based Elf Aquitaine submitted a counteroffer forTotalFina. Elf’s proposal would create two separate pure-play oiland gas and chemicals groups and annual pre-tax synergies of 2.5billion euros within three years of the combination. The dealoffers three Elf shares and 190 euros in cash for every five sharesin TotalFina, representing a premium of 10% to TotalFina’s closingprice on Friday July 16 (ex dividend). The transaction will beaccounted for under US GAAP using purchase accounting.

The four major gas trade associations that make up the NaturalGas Council (NGC) and two other industry trade groups were expectedto ask FERC late Monday for a second extension of the deadline forindustry comments on the major notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)and notice of inquiry (NOI) issued in July, industry sources said[RM98-10, RM98-12].

TransCanada PipeLines subsidiary Nova Gas Transmission and twogroups of Canadian producers are on their way to a whole newcompetitive pricing structure aimed at “[taking] on the realcompetition, which are the U.S. basins.”

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd., subsidiary Nova Gas Transmission andtwo groups of Canadian producers yesterday announced a “watershed”proposed agreement for a new pricing structure aimed at increasingthe competitiveness of the Nova system while at the same timeensuring greater rate fairness for producer-customers on thepipeline.