Rainfall running almost 165% above normal so far in 2006 has triggered land movement between Washougal and Willard in the Blue Lake area of Washington state at approximately Mile Post 1192, Northwest said Friday. “Strain gauges installed in this segment have registered steady increases in stress on the pipeline in this area,” the pipeline added. “Although the stress levels require remediation soon, they are not such that immediate action is needed.” In order to ensure safety and reliability in this segment, Northwest plans to blow down and excavate the affected area to reduce line stress. It anticipates there will be no physical flow through the area for Wednesday’s gas day. “Based upon current weather forecasts and operating conditions, Northwest does not anticipate primary impacts to customers. Northwest will work with its interconnects and use its Jackson Prairie inventory in an attempt to eliminate customer impacts. However, if net nominations north through the Washougal Compressor [Station] increase significantly over the currently scheduled volume of 386,000 Dth/d, Northwest may be forced to declare a Deficiency Period. Customers can help mitigate market impacts by buying gas at Sumas,” the pipeline said. For the Feb. 22-24 gas days Northwest will only schedule primary nominations north through either the Roosevelt or Washougal Compressor Stations. If the stress on the line accelerates, remediation work may begin earlier than currently planned, it said. A Stage II entitlement remained in place until further notice.
Movement
Articles from Movement
NGI The Weekly Gas Market Report
Northeast States Reach Pact to Lower Power Plant CO2 Emissions
Seven states in the Northeast agreed to implement a cap-and-trade program to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants. Forward movement on the regional greenhouse gas initiative (RGGI) came after Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pulled his state out of the effort and the chief executive of Rhode Island decided not to sign on to the effort at this time. RGGI is the first mandatory cap-and-trade program for CO2 emissions in U.S. history.
Arctic Gas Faces More Than Political Challenges
Even with political alignment and the right economic metrics, the movement of Arctic natural gas to the Lower 48 states faces the challenge of pipe manufacturing limitations that should prevent the proposed Alaska and Canadian (Mackenzie Delta) pipeline projects being developed concurrently, a Houston-based Chevron executive told an industry audience in Los Angeles Wednesday.
Quotes Mostly Higher in West, Lower in East
Other than increases at most western points, there was little consistency in Thursday’s price movement. Eastern markets generally were weaker due to mild weather and the screen’s drop of about a quarter a day earlier, but had several scattered points ranging from flat to up a little more than 40 cents in the mix.
Most Points Rebound as Mixed Pricing Continues
The cash market saw both up and down price movement again Friday, but this time the gainers outranked the losers. Support from a prior-day screen gain of nearly 15 cents and moderately strong power generation load across the southern half of the U.S. offset generally mild northern weather and the decline in industrial demand that is typical of weekend periods.
All Points Fall as Negative Price Influences Mount
While there had been a few exceptions to overall price movement up or down on each day earlier in the week, all points were on the same page Friday in recording losses ranging from a little less than 20 cents to half a dollar.
Prices Make Another U-Turn and Head Upward
Once again taking their cue more from prior-day screen movement than from waning weather support, cash prices reversed direction Thursday for the third time in as many days by recording increases at virtually all points.
Futures Hold Ground as Weather Remains the Story
Taking some time off following last week’s trading rampage, April natural gas futures on Monday kept their movement to a minimum. Last week, April natural gas futures went for a run, settling 72.8 cents higher on Friday than the previous week’s settle.
Avista Raised to Investment-Grade Credit by Moody’s
Citing Wall Street’s favorable reaction to its utility “back-to-basics” movement, Spokane, WA-based Avista Corp. was elevated to an investment-grade credit (Baa3), albeit the lowest rung, by Moody’s Investors Service, specifically related to about $90 million of debt by the utility holding company. Concurrently, the rating agency assigned the same rating to Avista’s five-year $350 million committed senior secured credit agreement with a December 2009 maturity.
Avista Raised to Investment-Grade Credit by Moody’s
Citing Wall Street’s favorable reaction to its utility “back-to-basics” movement, Spokane, WA-based Avista Corp. was elevated to an investment-grade credit (Baa3), albeit the lowest rung, by Moody’s Investors Service on Friday, specifically related to about $90 million of debt by the utility holding company. Concurrently, the rating agency assigned the same rating to Avista’s five-year $350 million committed senior secured credit agreement with a December 2009 maturity.
