operators

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last Wednesday issued certificates to two storage operators to build new natural gas storage facilities and expand existing storage operations along the Gulf Coast, and also awarded a preliminary determination (PD) on non-environmental issues to a third storage operator.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday issued certificates to two storage operators to build new natural gas storage facilities and expand existing storage operations along the Gulf Coast, and also awarded a preliminary determination (PD) to a third storage operator.

Columbia Gulf reported completion of repairs to a leak on its 20-inch offshore CNT Line upstream of the B side of the Eugene Island 250 platform. Operators were being allowed Wednesday to resume flow at eight meters — four where Columbia Gulf and Tennessee have connections at the same platforms and another four Tennessee meter locations that were affected when the leak was discovered last week (see Daily GPI, March 24).

Although they are small operators compared to the principal project proponents dotting the liquefied natural gas (LNG) landscape, a quartet of privately financed veteran energy industry players indicated they have land and infrastructure interconnections well established for their run at siting a small LNG receiving terminal on the only harbor along Oregon’s rugged Pacific Coast.

Reporting high linepack in all four segments, Kern River said Sunday it was imperative that operators take delivery of scheduled quantities and not bank any gas on the system. It also encouraged customers to schedule due-shipper delivery paybacks.

Private U. S. pipeline operators and a branch of Mexico’s state-owned energy company, PEMEX, have been quietly examining the possibility of a new natural gas pipeline from New Mexico’s San Juan Basin to Juarez, across the border from El Paso, TX, according to a Houston-based energy consultant who closely monitors Mexican energy developments. The New Mexico pipeline concept is a more recent offshoot of earlier proposals for a new line from West Texas.

Private U.S. pipeline operators and a branch of Mexico’s state-owned energy company, Pemex, have been quietly examining the possibility of a new natural gas pipeline from New Mexico’s San Juan Basin to Juarez, across the border from El Paso, TX, according to a Houston-based energy consultant who closely monitors Mexican energy developments. The New Mexico pipeline concept is a more recent offshoot of earlier proposals for a new line from West Texas.

Northwest Natural Gas Co. is among pipeline operators nationwide who are facing rising costs this year for new pipeline integrity testing. Northwest said Monday that it reached an agreement with the staff of the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) over $5 million in additional charges in 2004 and the $5-15 million per year in charges over the next nine years for new pipeline integrity testing and related pipeline safety activities.

ANR reported being informed by owners and/or operators of the processing plants that service its Southeast Area that based on their current analysis of processing economics for April, most will not process gas unless the pipeline issues a gas quality requirement. Thus ANR is establishing a hydrocarbon dew point limit of 20 degrees Fahrenheit for Southeast receipts, effective April 1-30. Meters delivering into ANR that exceed the dew point limit and are upstream of a processing plant must have their gas treated. “Evidence of a valid processing arrangement with a downstream processing plant must be made available to ANR upon request,” the pipeline said. ANR will post the hydrocarbon dew point for all Southeast receipt meters delivering into its system. It had taken the same action for March (see Daily GPI, Feb. 27).