Pipe

FERC yesterday gave its endorsement to a transmission rateschedule proposed by Reliant Energy Gas Transmission that willenable the company to meet the hourly peaking needs of powergenerators. With this action, Reliant becomes the first gaspipeline capable of providing such service.

El Paso Energy Communications Co., a subsidiary of Houston-basedEl Paso Energy; Touch America, a subsidiary of The Montana PowerCo.; and PF.Net LLC of Vancouver, a privately held company, plan tolaunch a $150 million project to create a long-haul fiber-opticnetwork linking Los Angeles and Houston.

Industrial gas customers yesterday endeared themselves topipelines that are trying to build new capacity into the Northeastmarket, calling on FERC to give the go-ahead to any and allprojects that meet “some basic standards.” Major gas and powerproducers, however, urged the Commission to first encourage pipesto use existing capacity more efficiently before doling outcertificates for new lines. They also proposed that pipelines berequired to assume more risk for their projects to protect shippersagainst “unnecessary” construction.

Discoveries are approaching 1 Tcf in a southern portion of theNorthwest Territories, which is emerging as Canada’s hottest newnatural-gas drilling play, fanning flames under a simmeringregulatory and political dispute over pipeline service throughAlberta.

Major pipeline-only companies for the most part turned in”better-than-expected” performances during the first quarter of theyear, while integrated pipelines took some big hits – particularlyin the oilpatch, gas analysts said. Fortunately for someintegrateds, the bigger profits from their unregulated activitieshelped to offset the losses.

Williams’ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line subsidiary filed anapplication with FERC last week for its SouthCoast expansionproject, which would add 204,099 Dth/d of firm transportationcapacity to serve new markets in Georgia and Alabama.

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line may construct its 53-mileSoutheast Louisiana Crossover (SELA) offshore Louisiana, theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission said in an order voted outWednesday, but it will be at risk to recover its costs.

Williams said yesterday it’s Transcontinental Gas Pipe Linesubsidiary has filed an application with FERC for its SouthCoastexpansion project, which would add 204,099 Dth/d of firmtransportation capacity to serve new markets in Georgia andAlabama.

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line may construct its 53-mileSoutheast Louisiana Crossover (SELA) offshore Louisiana, theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission said in an order voted outWednesday, but it will be at risk to recover its costs.