National

Sensing that it was time to update its 1988 Pipeline CrossingRegulations, Canada’s National Energy Board moved another steptoward the development of new regulations called the DamagePrevention Regulations (DPR) that will govern pipeline safetythroughout the country.

Murphy Oil Co., lifting a veil of secrecy that has hung over ahot drilling play for a year, told the National Energy Board itexpects to achieve production of up to 310 MMcf/d in northeasternBritish Columbia this year.

Another Canadian takeover bid by Hunt Oil and a snap decisionduring the holiday season by the National Energy Board, highlightthe industry’s eagerness to take advantage of soaring gas marketswith new Canadian supplies.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory(NETL) through its Strategic Center for Natural Gas released asolicitation for proposals to improve the reliability of thenation’s natural gas infrastructure. NETL expects to fund researchand development projects totaling up to $10 million over athree-year period through this solicitation. Multiple awards areanticipated with industrial participants expected to contribute atleast 35% of each selected project’s cost. The proposals are due byJan. 9, 2001. The solicitation is available at the NETL web sitehttp://www.netl.doe.gov/business/solicit/index.html . For moreinformation, contact David J. Anna, (412) 386-4646, or e-mail:anna@netl.doe.gov .

The National Energy Board has put out a new signal that naturalgas supplies will remain tight by cutting in half its growthprojections for western Canadian production capacity after a reviewof recent performance.

A revised National Weather Service forecast, expanding theprediction of below normal temperatures for the Christmas weekendto the entire United States except for the sparsely populated UpperPlains, kept most prices from softening Friday, as some hadanticipated. Except for the still-most-expensive West Coast market,all other points realized gains from about a dime (San Juan Basin)to a little more than 50 cents (Northern Natural Gas market area).

The National Energy Board has put out a new signal that naturalgas supplies will remain tight by cutting in half its growthprojections for western Canadian production capacity after a reviewof recent performance.

TransCanada PipeLines filed applications with the NationalEnergy Board and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board last weekfor significant interim toll hikes on its Canadian Mainline andAlberta natural gas transmission systems. The requested tolls wouldgo into effect Jan. 1, 2001.

TransCanada PipeLines filed applications with the NationalEnergy Board and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board yesterdayfor significant interim toll hikes on its Canadian Mainline andAlberta natural gas transmission systems. The requested tolls wouldgo into effect Jan. 1, 2001.