Kern

“It is imperative that operators take delivery of quantities that are scheduled immediately,” Kern River said in a Monday bulletin board notice noting that the pipeline was “operating with extremely high linepack due to excessive banking over the weekend.” It also encouraged the scheduling of due-customer imbalance paybacks on an as-available basis.

The fact that Kern River’s 900 MMcf/d expansion has been running full right from its opening day in May is a clear indication of the need for another major pipeline, and soon, according to experts addressing members of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) in Denver Wednesday.

The fact that Kern River’s 900 MMcf/d expansion has been 90% full almost from its opening in May is a clear indication of the need for another major pipeline, and soon, according to experts addressing members of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) in Denver Wednesday.

Noting that it is currently operating with “extremely low linepack,” Kern River said Tuesday it is imperative that operators do not take delivery of more quantities than are scheduled. If drafting continues to be a problem, the pipeline said, further action will be taken.

Kern River reported late Monday afternoon being informed by Duke Energy Field Services that Jonah Field, behind the Opal Plant, is experiencing production problems due to pigging.

NOVA restored its imbalance tolerance range to the normal +4/-4 Tuesday, a day after shifting it to 0/-4 to discourage rising linepack.

Kern River reported being informed by affiliate Williams Field Services that Jonah Field operators will perform maintenance at Byrd Canyon #2 today. Nominations at the WFS-operated Opal Plant will be reduced in the timely cycle. The total tailgate impact is estimated at 103,000 dekatherms.

A Williams corporate spokesman said Thursday a Kern River bulletin board report, saying Jonah Field equipment problems had caused restrictions on field throughput to the Opal Plant operated by affiliate Williams Field Services, was in error. “There was a nominations snafu,” the spokesperson quoted a WFS dispatcher as saying, but no equipment problem. The plant was processing about 650 MMcf/d Thursday, which was pretty typical throughput, he said. Total Opal capacity is 730 MMcf/d.

Kern River reported being informed by affiliate Williams Field Services that Opal Plant was experiencing gas quality issues involving high water content at the tailgate. WFS was cutting Opal nominations in the Intraday 2 process Monday. The plant dropped 85 MMcf Monday from its normal throughput of about 740 MMcf/d, a WFS spokesman said, but the situation was improving Tuesday and any further loss was expected to be minimal.