Initiating

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is initiating an environmental analysis evaluating the impacts of seismic and other geological and geophysical activities involved in oil and gas development and the potential siting of wind turbines in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf and adjacent state waters.

Following a favorable nonbinding open season, Cheniere Energy Partners LP is initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) pre-filing process with FERC for its proposed Cheniere Southern Trail Pipeline, previously known as the Louisiana Natural Gas Header, the company said last Wednesday.

Following a favorable nonbinding open season, Cheniere Energy Partners LP is initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) pre-filing process with the FERC for its proposed Cheniere Southern Trail Pipeline, previously known as the Louisiana Natural Gas Header, the company said Wednesday.

Initiating a centerpiece regulatory initiative under the newly enacted Energy Policy Act of 2005, FERC last Thursday proposed criteria for the establishment of an electric reliability organization (ERO) that will enforce reliability standards under the regulatory review and oversight of the Commission.

Gulf South said Wednesday it was initiating unscheduled maintenance on Unit #2 at its Opelousas (LA) Compressor Station that would continue until further notice. Up to 125 MMcf/d of station capacity could be curtailed. Also, Gulf South will begin scheduled maintenance on its Bistineau (LA) Compressor Station’s Unit #3 Thursday that will last until further notice. Injections into Bistineau Storage could be affected as much as 125 MMcf/d during this project. All additional units at the Bistineau Compressor Station are available. And beginning next Tuesday at 7 a.m. CST and continuing for about 48 hours, Gulf South will perform scheduled maintenance on Index 8, its 12-inch line between Longview and Tyler in East Texas. The work constitutes a force majeure event and will affect Gulf South’s ability to provide service to 10 locations, the pipeline said. There are also five single farm taps that will be affected.

Black Hills Corp. announced last Tuesday it is initiating an internal investigation of its past trade reporting practices in response to a request for information from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Black Hills Corp. announced Tuesday it is initiating an internal investigation of its past trade reporting practices in response to a request for information from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a formal order Wednesday initiating a fact-finding investigation into possible manipulation of short-term prices for natural gas and electricity in West Coast markets. The agency’s action was sparked by the Enron Corp. financial debacle, Chairman Pat Wood said, and was a follow-up to his pledge before a congressional committee two weeks ago (see Daily GPI, Feb. 4).

Florida Gas Transmission has started construction on its PhaseIV expansion project, which includes a new pipeline to Fort Myersfrom Tampa. The project, initiating in Hillsboro and Lee Counties,FL, will provide 197 MMcf/d of incremental firm transportationservice on an annual basis and will extend FGT’s 4,700-mileexisting transmission system by 139 miles.