Received

Natural gas futures values received a surprise bump Thursday morning after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed that 207 Bcf had been removed from underground storage for the week ending Dec. 11, which annihilated both last year’s 116 Bcf draw and the five-year average pull of 127 Bcf.

Two western firms with some complementary biomass power producing technology announced Monday they have received a $23 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant for a demonstration project in Colorado. Los Angeles-based Rentech Inc. and Hawaii-based ClearFuels Technology Inc. will jointly build a biomass gasifier at Rentech’s Energy Technology Center in Denver. The grant is subject to final negotiations with DOE, the companies said in a joint announcement.

Oregon LNG, one of three proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals in Oregon, received some positive signals last Tuesday in its negotiations with the Port of Astoria Commission over renewal of a long-term lease for its proposed 96-acre site. A federal magistrate ruled in favor of the project developer on the lease extension and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s office said it would not investigate the lease issue as some anti-LNG groups were urging.

Oregon LNG, one of three proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals in Oregon, received some positive signals last Tuesday in its negotiations with the Port of Astoria Commission over renewal of a long-term lease for its proposed 96-acre site. A federal magistrate ruled in favor of the project developer on the lease extension and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s office said it would not investigate the lease issue as some anti-LNG groups were urging.

Enterprise Products Partners LP and Duncan Energy Partners LP said they have received additional firm transportation commitments from shippers that are sufficient to support expanding the capacity of their recently announced 249-mile Haynesville Extension into northwest Louisiana to 2.1 Bcf/d. They said they have ordered 42-inch diameter pipe, which is larger than what was originally planned.

Williams’ Northwest Pipeline GP has received authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place its 24-inch diameter Colorado Hub Connection into service, it said. The 26.4-mile pipeline and related facilities connect the Meeker/White River Hub, a regional production area hub, with the Northwest Pipeline mainline south of Rangely, CO. The project will provide approximately 360,000 Dth/d of firm service on Northwest’s mainline to delivery points as far south as Ignacio, CO. At Ignacio Northwest interconnects with El Paso Natural Gas and Transwestern Pipeline Co. The cost of the project was approximately $60 million. “Completion of the Colorado Hub makes it possible for us to connect the Piceance Basin supplies with markets in the western U.S. through Northwest’s existing mainline system,” said Phil Wright, president of Williams’ gas pipeline business. In August 2007 Northwest conducted an open season for the project and filed an application for a FERC certificate in September 2008. Williams Pipeline Partners LP owns a 35% interest in Northwest Pipeline GP.

December natural gas futures values received a small boost Thursday morning after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that 29 Bcf was injected into underground storage caverns for the week ending Oct. 30. Traders were watching the injection report, which was neutral to somewhat smaller than most industry expectations, along with the surprise development of Hurricane Ida in the western Caribbean.

A medium-size natural gas utility and a small propane distributor received approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Tuesday to implement separate purchased gas adjustor (PGA) credits for their customers. UniSource Energy Corp.’s UNS Gas utility and Semstream Propane will be allowed to adjust rates depending on the swings in the wholesale costs of their respective fuels.

The 1 Bcf/d Canaport LNG terminal marked its official opening Thursday, giving Spain’s Repsol YPF greater access to U.S. and Canadian natural gas markets.