Repairs

Natural gas production in the Lower 48 and Other States categories, which include some of the nation’s most prolific shale plays, was up in February compared with January and with February 2012, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Natural Gas Gross Production Report.

A news media tour was held Saturday at the Mayflower, AR, oil spill area under the joint command of local, state and federal officials, as well as ExxonMobil representatives. The event was held to provide an update of the spill, which occurred March 29 when a portion of the ExxonMobil Pegasus Pipeline ruptured. Since then, the portion of the 850-mile oil pipeline that failed has been removed for analysis at an independent laboratory and a new section of pipeline installed, all under state and federal oversight. In ExxonMobil’s most recent daily report the company indicated that cleanup was coming to an end and remediation of the area should begin soon. Monitoring by the company and various agencies has indicated that there has been no contamination of water or air from the spilling of what is estimated to be 5,000 bbl of oil. Besides U.S. Environmental Protection Agency representatives, there have been representatives from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and local government on the scene since the cleanup began. Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel launched an investigation several days after the incident (see Shale Daily, April 3).

California regulators are investigating allegations by union members that there are flaws in the welds and corrosion repairs that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) completed last year as part of its testing, repair and replacement of more than 160 miles of natural gas transmission and distribution pipeline running through high consequence areas (HCA).

ANR said it has shut in the Contango Eugene Island 63/11 receipt point for pipeline repairs and is not accepting nominations there until further notice.

ANR reported beginning engine repairs at St. John Compressor Station along its Michigan Leg South, reducing total St. John west-to-east capacity by 100 MMcf/d (leaving 1,195 MMcf/d available) through Friday. Based on current nominations, the reduction may result in curtailment of IT and Firm Secondary nominations, ANR said.

Repairs are under way and expected to be completed by mid-week on Bison Pipeline, a section of which experienced a rupture last week in Wyoming (see Daily GPI, July 25), shutting in the pipeline. A spokesman for TransCanada Corp., owner of Bison, told NGI the preliminary investigation into the cause of the rupture has determined that it was the result of mechanical damage. “Something struck the pipe,” said spokesman James Millar. However, he could not say whether there was excavation taking place in the area of the rupture in Campbell County, WY. TransCanada is working with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on its restart plan for the pipeline, Millar said. “When they approve that restart plan…then we can begin flowing gas on Bison.”

ANR began repairs Tuesday at its Portland (IN) Compressor Station in the Northern Fuel Segment (ML-7), which are limiting Defiance South-CTFP northbound capacity by 190 MMcf/d, leaving 919 MMcf/d available through Friday. Based on current nominations, it is anticipated that the reduction may result in the curtailment of IT and Firm Secondary nominations, ANR said.

Florida Gas Transmission did not extend a two-day Overage Alert for market-area customers beyond Wednesday.

ANR said it began unplanned engine repairs Monday at Bridgman Compressor Station along its Michigan Leg South, which reduced total St. John W-E (west to east) capacity by 265 MMcf/d (leaving 1,030 MMcf/d available) until further notice. Based on current nominations, ANR anticipates that the reduction may result in the curtailment of IT and Firm Secondary nominations.