Notice

Transco reported sending a force majeure notice to customers under the ESS and EESWS rate schedules. The pipeline explained that on Dec. 26 it detected a large, unexpected pressure drop in one of seven caverns at Eminence Storage Field in Covington County, MS. Eminence is the facility that supports the service for affected customers. Two days later Transco determined that gas was leaking from Cavern 3 and since then has reduced the cavern’s pressure by venting and flaring gas. On Jan. 4, Transco continued, based on a determination that the reduced pressure in Cavern 3 created a risk to the salt pillars separating it from adjacent Caverns 1 and 2, the pipeline began to reduce the pressures of Caverns 1 and 2 by withdrawing gas from them. During those operations, on Jan. 15 Transco discovered gas escaping from the ground around the wellhead for Cavern 1. It continued to safely withdraw gas from Caverns 1 and 2, and by Jan. 24 their pressure was low enough to avoid potential effects on Cavern 3. However, due to the leak at Cavern 3 and the damage to the well at Cavern 1, both are out of service, and that prompted last Thursday’s force majeure declaration, Transco said. Determining that neither cavern can be returned to service, it plans to file an application with FERC seeking to abandon them. Transco estimates that due to the force majeure event, Eminence is capable of providing about 70% of contracted capacity and 92% of contracted deliverability. The field’s daily injection capability is not affected.

Seeking to sort out capacity assignment rules for intrastates and Hinshaw pipelines, FERC Thursday issued a notice of inquiry (NOI) asking for public comment on whether and how holders of firm interstate capacity on some intrastate pipelines can allow others to use their capacity, including to what extent buy/sell transactions should be permitted (RM11-1).

Seeking to sort out capacity assignment rules for intrastates and Hinshaw pipelines, FERC Thursday issued a notice of inquiry (NOI) asking for public comment on whether and how holders of firm interstate capacity on some intrastate pipelines can allow others to use their capacity, including to what extent buy/sell transactions should be permitted (RM11-1).

CenterPoint issued a notice of force majeure Tuesday, saying it will begin an estimated two weeks of unscheduled unit maintenance Wednesday at Searcy (AR) Compressor Station on Line J in the North Pooling Area. During this work up to 125,000 Dth/d of deliveries (including to the TGT@Searcy interconnect) and corresponding receipts could be affected. It’s possible that firm shippers with primary delivery points on Line J will not be scheduled during the maintenance period, CenterPoint said. See the bulletin board for a list of receipt points where scheduling could be impacted.

Ruby Pipeline LLC has applied to FERC for a Notice to Proceed and Construct its 680-mile east-to-west natural gas project, the final hurdle that must be cleared before construction can begin.

Ruby Pipeline LLC has applied to FERC for a Notice to Proceed and Construct its 680-mile east-to-west natural gas project, the final hurdle that must be cleared before construction can begin.

Northern Natural Gas has implemented a System Overrun Limitation until further notice at the Gilmore City #1 point Friday, saying it was due to sustained flows in excess of facility capacity.

Southern Natural Gas implemented an OFO Type 6 for short imbalances effective Sunday until further notice. Tiered penalties were set for noncompliance.

Spending for global offshore operations and maintenance over the next five years is forecast to be more than $330 billion, with most of the money targeting North America’s offshore, energy analysts with Douglas-Westwood said in a report issued last week.