Maximum

The Pipelines Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has authorized increases in the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) from 0.72 to 0.8 design on portions of the Midcontinent Express (MEP) and Rockies Express (REX) pipelines and on all of the Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline. Additionally, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP’s Texas Gas Transmission LLC subsidiary received authorization to operate its Fayetteville and Greenville laterals at standard operating pressures (0.72).

The Pipelines Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has authorized increases in the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) from 0.72 to 0.8 design on portions of the Midcontinent Express (MEP) and Rockies Express (REX) pipelines and on all of the Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline.

Southern Natural Gas will implement an OFO Type 6 for short imbalances Thursday. There will be no penalties for short imbalances up to 2% or 200 Dth, whichever is greater. Tiered penalties will be applied for larger imbalances, up to a maximum of $15/Dth for those exceeding 8%. The pipeline had warned Tuesday that such an OFO was highly likely for Thursday and Friday.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that will allow certain natural gas pipelines to operate at higher maximum allowable operating pressures (MAOP) than those permitted under existing pipeline safety regulations. Pipeline operators will no longer have to apply for special permits to operate at higher pressures, as is currently required.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that will allow certain natural gas pipelines to operate at higher maximum allowable operating pressures (MAOP) than those permitted under existing pipeline safety regulations. Pipeline operators will no longer have to apply for special permits to operate at higher pressures, as is currently required.

With linepack starting to bump up against its maximum target levels and threatening to greatly exceed them over the weekend, Pacific Gas & Electric issued a systemwide Stage 2 high-inventory OFO for Friday on its California Gas Transmission system. Penalties of $1/Dth were set for positive daily imbalances exceeding a 6% tolerance. The giant dual utility had issued a systemwide low-inventory OFO Wednesday.

El Paso warned Saturday of potential high-linepack conditions on its system and said its Washington Ranch storage facility was at maximum injections. If the situation failed to improve, El Paso said, declaration of a Pack Strained Operating Condition (SOC) would be required. However, it canceled the SOC warning Monday, citing improved conditions.

Projecting that linepack on its California Gas Transmission system would rise to well above its maximum target levels by Friday, Pacific Gas & Electric issued a systemwide Stage 2 high-inventory OFO for Wednesday. Penalties of $1/Dth were set for customers who exceed an 8% tolerance on positive daily imbalances.

Nonbinding interest in a recently completed open season may cause the sponsors of a proposed new intrastate transmission pipeline in Oregon to increase its maximum capacity from 1 Bcf/d to 1.5 Bcf/d, according to a senior executive at PG&E Corp. speaking last Thursday on a first quarter earnings conference call.