Pipeline

Funding for natural gas and oil pipelines was the big winner inFERC’s budget for fiscal year 2000, according to the agency’sbudget request.

The question of who – federal or state regulators, or both – hasjurisidiction over small interstate pipeline laterals that directlyserve end-use customers has been left unresolved at the regulatorylevel, and now is poised to be sent to state and federal appellatecourts.

Flows to some customers of distributor Cascade Natural Gas weredisrupted Saturday when Northwest Pipeline’s 22-inch mainlineruptured near Pendleton, OR.

Although the use of the pre-filing collaborative process inhydroelectric relicensing cases is still “too new” to determinewhether it would also work for gas pipeline projects, theDepartment of Interior says its supports FERC efforts to promote”pre-filing communications and consultations” with the agency andother stakeholders in the gas arena. However, it agreed withinterstate gas pipelines that participation in the collaborativeprocess should not be mandated.

There is zero probability the Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission can design a pipeline capacity auction that wouldefficiently operate in the marketplace, according to an eminenteconomist who suggested the best strategy would be to get rid ofFERC.

There is zero probability the Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission can design a pipeline capacity auction that wouldefficiently operate in the marketplace, according to an eminenteconomist who suggested the best strategy would be to get rid ofFERC.

The Coastal Corp benefited from its mix of producer and pipelineoperations, announcing a 17% jump from 3Q 1997 on a per-sharebasis. Coastal earned $89.5 million, or 41 cents/share, compared to$80.4 million, or 35 cents/share in 3Q 1997. Along with earnings,the company reiterated its commitment to the North American gassector, calling it the best energy investment opportunity anywhere.

Cross Bay Pipeline Co., a limited liability company formed bysubsidiaries of Williams, Duke Energy and KeySpan Energy, announcedit is holding a 30-day open season from Oct. 15 to Nov. 13 todetermine market interest in 125,000 Dth/d of firm capacity to theNew York City metropolitan area.

Cross Bay Pipeline Co., a limited liability company formed bysubsidiaries of Williams, Duke Energy and KeySpan Energy, announcedit is holding a 30-day open season from Oct. 15 to Nov. 13 todetermine market interest in 125,000 Dth/d of firm capacity to theNew York City metropolitan area.