Pipes

Natural gas trade associations last week were divided over recommendations in a Senate Republican policy paper that call on Congress in the next session to terminate open-access requirements and introduce market pricing for natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, as well as reduce the regulatory confusion between states and the federal government and speed up capital cost recovery of energy investments.

El Paso Corp. pipeline affiliates, Southern Natural Gas Co. and Florida Gas Transmission (FGT), said Friday they have begun open seasons for transportation capacity on planned and related expansions that are designed to meet the growing demand in southeastern gas markets by 2007.

Natural gas trade associations are divided over recommendations in a Senate Republican policy paper that call on Congress in the next session to terminate open-access requirements and introduce market pricing for natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, as well as reduce the regulatory confusion between states and the federal government and speed up capital cost recovery of energy investments.

Natural gas trade associations are divided over recommendations in a Senate Republican policy paper that call on Congress in the next session to terminate open-access requirements and introduce market pricing for natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, as well as reduce the regulatory confusion between states and the federal government and speed up capital cost recovery of energy investments.

Most natural gas distributors and intrastate gas pipelines said they would be opposed to any FERC requirement calling for owners and operators of gas storage facilities to electronically post their storage inventory levels from the prior day. They contend that the public disclosure of their storage data on a daily basis would leave them and their customers vulnerable to higher prices.

Most natural gas distributors and intrastate gas pipelines said they would be opposed to any FERC requirement calling for owners and operators of gas storage facilities to electronically post their storage inventory levels from the prior day. They contend that the public disclosure of their storage data on a daily basis would leave them and their customers vulnerable to higher prices.

A leaner Williams Cos. has set its sights on its three core natural gas businesses, exploration and production (E&P), midstream and interstate gas pipelines, going forward, the head of the company told analysts last Thursday. The company is trying to exit the power business, but it’s unlikely that it will be able to do so in the near term.

A leaner Williams Cos. has set its sights on its three core natural gas businesses, exploration and production (E&P), midstream and interstate gas pipelines, going forward, the head of the company told analysts Thursday. The company is trying to exit the power business, but it’s unlikely that it will be able to do so in the near term.

A joint venture of Southern Union Co. and a General Electric Co. unit won the bidding war last week to acquire Enron Corp.’s prized domestic natural gas pipeline unit, CrossCountry Energy, in a transaction valued at $2.45 billion.