Requests

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the requests of Wyoming Interstate Co. (WIC) Questar Overthrust Pipeline and Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) for temporary waivers of capacity-release regulations, clearing the way for the permanent release of off-system capacity held on WIC’s pipeline to certain shippers. The capacity-release transactions are a one-time basis only and have to be done within 90 days. WIC currently holds 200,000 Dth/d of off-system capacity on REX and has three transportation agreements for capacity on Questar Overthrust to provide shippers on its system seamless transportation service. A breakdown of the agreements held by WIC on Overthrust includes 365,000 Dth/d through 2017; 190,00 Dth/d from November 2018 to September 2020; and two contracts for 120,000 Dth/d and 40,000 Dth/d, both of which run through 2020, according to Overthrust’s waiver request. WIC is proposing to release permanently all or a portion of the reserve capacity that it holds on Overthrust. With respect to the capacity on Overthrust, WIC told FERC it has encountered unexpected nominations and scheduling issues that have affected the quality and reliability of service received by WIC shippers. After “actively collaborating” to resolve the issues, “WIC states both pipelines [it and Overthrust] have agreed that the ideal solution is to permanently release WIC’s Overthrust capacity to the respective shippers on whose behalf WIC acquired the off-system capacity.” Three shippers have expressed an interest in a permanent release of the Overthrust capacity: Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Marathon Oil Co. and WPX Energy Inc, according to WIC [RP12-1018].”Two of these shippers, Occidental and Marathon, also rely on REX off-system capacity, which WIC acquired on their behalf.

Natural gas industry representatives were granted early access to New York’s preliminary unconventional drilling regulations up to six weeks before the rules were made public, the public health advocate Environmental Working Group (EWG) claimed on Thursday, citing documents obtained under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

FERC Thursday approved the requests of several companies to abandon by sale all or virtually all of their pipeline facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some onshore facilities.

In an order issued last week for Chestnut Ridge Storage LLC, FERC provided guidance on when it will (and won’t) grant requests to extend deadlines for completing projects.

In an order issued Wednesday involving Chestnut Ridge Storage LLC, FERC laid out guidance on when and when it won’t grant requests to extend deadlines for completing projects.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has placed requests for future exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on hold until it can assess their impact on the domestic price of natural gas, Energy Secretary Steven Chu told a Senate panel Thursday.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has placed requests for future exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on hold until it can assess their impact on the domestic price of natural gas, Energy Secretary Steven Chu told a Senate panel Thursday.

The cash- and employee-strapped Colorado state government is battling a growing oil and gas drilling permit backlog created by a combination of a 70% jump in applications between 2007 and 2010 and the recession, which shrank state government. However, oil and gas industry representatives are praising state officials for attempting to address the problem.

The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) is seeking requests for proposals (RFP) for its Small Producer Program and its Unconventional Resources Program.