Liquid

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is calling on owners and operators of recently constructed large-diameter natural gas pipelines and hazardous liquid pipelines to examine their systems for potential girth weld defects.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is calling on owners and operators of recently constructed large-diameter natural gas pipelines and hazardous liquid pipelines to examine their systems for potential girth weld defects.

Houston-based Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. has been fined $56,650 for three spills in September of a liquid gel used to fracture natural gas wells, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said. The spills, which occurred in one week’s time at Cabot’s Heitsman gas development in Dimock Township in Susquehanna County, forced Cabot to cease drilling activities in the region for around three weeks until it complied with a state order (see Daily GPI, Oct. 20; Sept. 28). “This penalty was assessed for Cabot’s violations of the Clean Streams Law, Solid Waste Management Act and Oil and Gas Act,” said DEP Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell. “We expect that Cabot will do a better job in the future of overseeing its contractors now that the company has an improved preparedness, prevention and contingency plan in place.”

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an advisory warning owners and operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines of the potential that high-grade line pipe used in recent projects may have been substandard.

ANR reported that based upon review of its operations and an increase in hydrocarbon dew point (HDP) levels experienced from processing plant operations, it has determined that hydrocarbon liquid fallout is anticipated absent an HDP posting. Thus, effective Friday ANR is establishing an HDP limit of 25 degrees F for receipts between the Defiance and Eunice monitoring points in South Louisiana. This limit, which will not apply to receipt meters flowing 500 Dth/d or less, will remain in effect through Dec. 31, ANR said. See the bulletin board for further details.

Marathon Oil Corp.’s oil and natural gas production in 3Q2008 rose sequentially from 2Q2008 to 384,000 boe/d from 350,000 boe/d, but domestic gas production appeared to be flat sequentially and down from a year earlier.

Looking to meet the expanding production growth out of the Wamsutter area, Williams announced plans Wednesday to significantly increase the processing and natural gas liquid (NGL) production capacities at the Echo Springs processing plant in Carbon County, WY.

When oil prices wave goodbye to the natural gas market and head for the moon, even the staunchest gas-focused producer can turn wistful thinking of the liquid hydrocarbon and what might have been.

When oil prices wave goodbye to the natural gas market and head for the moon, even the staunchest gas-focused producer can turn wistful thinking of the liquid hydrocarbon and what might have been.