Incidents

To provide an early warning system for potential natural gas drilling incidents, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) on Tuesday said it would expand its network of electronic water quality monitors on streams that flow through the Marcellus Shale region of New York and Pennsylvania.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil to begin submitting semi-annual operation reports and significant incidents reports for their liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal and storage facility in Kenai, AK. The Commission in 1967 approved the companies’ request for authorization to export LNG from the Kenai facility, but FERC at the time did not subject the facility to the reporting and inspection requirements that now apply to all other operational LNG terminals. The Kenai facilities, which export LNG to Pacific Rim countries, “will be subject to a cryogenic design and technical review of the facility’s design, operation and maintenance” by FERC; regular Commission staff technical reviews and site inspections on at least an annual basis or more frequently; and will be required to file semi-annual operational reports that identify changes in facility design and operating conditions, abnormal operating experiences, plant modifications and future plans. Reports are to be filed within 45 days after each period ending June 30 and Dec. 31.

Focusing on weather and global warming trends and ignoring “black swans” — incidents that spike well above or below established trends — could blind investors and the energy industry to opportunities, according to Bethlehem, PA-based long-range forecaster Weather Trends International (WTI).

Focusing on weather and global warming trends and ignoring “black swans” — incidents that spike well above or below established trends — could blind investors and the energy industry to opportunities, according to Bethlehem, PA-based long-range forecaster Weather Trends International (WTI).

Looking to head off additional incidents related to bad natural gas line couplings, CenterPoint Energy said it has launched a project to remove all couplings in the former Midwest Gas service area that do not meet standards by the end of 2005. The project involves replacing up to 35,000 service lines in 37 Minnesota communities.

Looking to head off additional incidents related to bad natural gas line couplings, CenterPoint Energy said Wednesday that it has launched a project to remove all couplings in the former Midwest Gas service area that do not meet standards by the end of 2005. The project involves replacing up to 35,000 service lines in 37 Minnesota communities.