Intrastate

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) announced that it has suspended its open season for additional intrastate pipeline capacity that was scheduled to close Aug. 30. The California utility said it made the decision not to go forward with the open season at this time while conducting a corporate-wide review related to its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

Knoxville-based Tengasco last week began natural gas deliveries over its new intrastate pipeline to Eastman Chemical Co. under a 20-year sales contract that calls for a minimum of 10 MMcf/d. The contract, which will supply at least 80% of Eastman’s gas requirements in Kingsport, TN, is estimated to generate over $200 million of revenues during its term.

Knoxville-based Tengasco yesterday began gas deliveries over its new intrastate pipeline to Eastman Chemical Co. under a 20-year sales contract that calls for a minimum of 10 MMcf/d. The contract, which will supply at least 80% of Eastman’s gas requirements in Kingsport, TN, is estimated to generate over $200 million of revenues during its term.

One expansion just wasn’t enough for Mitchell Energy &Development Co., which yesterday announced plans for a secondadd-on to its Bridgeport natural gas processing plant in NorthTexas. The expansion, planned for completion by July 2001, isexpected to help the company double its capacity within a year,matching the rapidly growing gas production from Mitchell’s NewarkEast Barnett Shale field.

El Paso Energy Intrastate (formerly known as Channel)experienced a rupture of its 30-inch line Monday evening nearBaytown, TX, east of Houston. There was no fire, but a voluntaryevacuation of the area was conducted, a spokeswoman said. Oneinjury was reported as a result of the evacuation, and as of middayTuesday everyone had returned home except for two families whosehomes were damaged, she said. No service interruptions are expectedas all demands are being met through gas re-routing or fuelswitching, the spokeswoman said. The line probably will be returnedto service by the end of the week. It is owned 50-50 by El PasoEnergy and Enron Corp. and is operated by El Paso Field Services.

California’s natural gas purchasing program for about 120 stateoperated facilities, totaling more than 14 Bcf, annually has beenpostponed until June 7 and revised due to increasingly uncertainmarket conditions, according to the head of the state’s buyingprogram in the state General Services Department. Bids in therevised program are due from the state’s seven pre-approved biddersby 8:30 a.m. on the 7th. Sempra Energy Trading is the currentsupplier.

KN Energy began an open season for its a 108-mile, 24-inchMonterrey Pipeline that would connect its MidCon Texas intrastatepipeline in Starr County, TX, to Monterrey, Mexico. The open seasonbegan last week and runs through 5 p.m. CDT July 30. KN expects tostart construction of the $50 million pipeline in 1999, withcompletion projected for the second quarter of 2000. Capacity isexpected to be 275 MMcf/d, and the pipe will serve gas-fired powerplants in Monterrey, local distribution companies, large industrialconsumers as well as future market opportunities.

KN Energy began an open season for its a 108-mile, 24-inchMonterrey Pipeline that would connect its MidCon Texas intrastatepipeline in Starr County, TX, to Monterrey, Mexico. The open seasonbegan yesterday and runs through 5 p.m. CDT July 30.

Midcoast Energy Resources said its wholly owned Louisianaintrastate pipeline subsidiary, Creole Gas Pipeline, has reached along-term agreement with Chevron Chemical Co. to provide gas supplyto Chevron’s Oak Point plant in Belle Chasse, LA. The five-yearpact calls for Creole to provide Chevron with 9,500 MMBtu/d of gas,or about 90% of the total requirements of the Oak Point plant.Creole will construct a new seven-mile pipeline to provide theservice, which will start in September. Creole provides gastransportation services to major industrial customers in the NewOrleans area.