Planned

Pipeline competition in the Rockies is heating up with a newpipeline project launched last week by Williams and changes to aplanned extension announced by rival Trailblazer Pipeline.

Those in a counting their chickens mode relative to all theplanned new natural gas-fired generating capacity waiting in thewings, might want to consider a new analysis of just how efficientthose new plants will be. Energy Ventures Analysis (EVA) ofArlington, VA reckons gas displacement by new more efficientgas-fired combined cycle units will total over 250 Bcf/year inTexas and over 100 Bcf/year in California from 2003-5. That’s notto say gas use will decline, because load growth will swallow upsome of those savings, but “the initial gas demand growth rate inthese key regions will be dampened.” The efficiency factor of theswitch to the latest turbines from older steam generation unitswill be most pronounced in those two states, but will have animpact in other areas as well. EVA’s report, “Outlook for Gas-FiredCapacity Additions,” points to 411 gas turbine projects, generating190,980 MW, which are expected to be completed, primarily betweennow and the end of 2003. Where the new units replace oil or coalgeneration, the switch will be a plus for natural gas, but incertain areas they will be replacing older gas hogs as well. EVA’sforecast is part of its “FUELCAST” study which addresses the longterm outlook for fuel and electricity markets.

Pipeline competition in the Rockies is heating up with a newpipeline project launched yesterday by Williams and changes to aplanned extension announced by rival Trailblazer Pipeline.

The Pipeline Research Council International Inc. (PRCI) and itsstrategic technology partner, Houston-based Technical ToolboxesInc. (TTI), announced yesterday they plan to launchPipelineCentral.com, a neutral Internet marketplace that wouldenable suppliers to furnish services and equipment (i.e.compressors and smart pigs) more quickly to interstate natural gasand oil pipelines in the United States and overseas.

Duke Energy Gas Transmission said yesterday it opened two 400MMcf/d interconnections between its newly-acquired East Tennesseepipeline system and Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco), paving theway for ETNG customers to access more diverse supplies from theGulf Coast region.

Transwestern said its Crawford Lateral will be down for plannedmaintenance Tuesday and Wednesday. No flows will be scheduled atthe 500267 meter, affecting about 50 MMcf/d, the pipeline said.

Nicor Inc. has signed on as an equal partner in the plannedHorizon Pipeline with Kinder Morgan Inc.’s Natural Gas PipelineCompany of America (NGPL), the companies said last week. Thepartners also submitted Horizon’s application to FERC.

Nicor Inc. has signed on as an equal partner in the plannedHorizon Pipeline with Kinder Morgan Inc.’s Natural Gas PipelineCompany of America (NGPL), the companies said. The partners alsosubmitted Horizon’s application to FERC this week.

ONEOK said last week that its board of directors has voted toterminate its planned merger with Southwest Gas. The terminationdecision was made pursuant to a provision in the merger agreementthat permitted any party to terminate if certain conditions werenot fulfilled by December 14, 1999. ONEOK notified Southwest of thetermination late last week.