Revisions

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) plans to hold four public workshops across the country in the next three weeks to hear from the public about possibly revising the 15-year-old Federal Gas Valuation Rule, used to determine royalties due on natural gas from federal leases.

Western Gas Resources Inc. said its proved reserves as of Dec. 31, 2002 increased 24% to 588 Bcfe with additions net of revisions totaling 162 Bcfe and 114 Bcfe net of production. The company noted that it replaced 334% of 2002 production of 48.7 Bcfe and its net production increased 34% in 2002.

The American Gas Association (AGA) has found a lot to like about revisions announced Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency in its New Source Review (NSR) program. The changes, EPA said, are aimed at clarifying and improving the operation of the rules for curbing pollution from energy and other production plants that are a source of emissions.

Citing what they called “regulatory uncertainties” in the regional transmission organization (RTO) arena, Duke Energy, CP&L and South Carolina Electric & Gas last week announced that they were withdrawing their applications before state utility regulators in South Carolina and North Carolina to transfer functional control of their electric transmission assets to the GridSouth RTO. But the utilities also said that they remain committed to the GridSouth RTO and plan to file new applications before state regulators in the near future that will include a revised GridSouth structure.

Producers and industrial gas customers have filed petitions forreview of FERC’s latest revisions to the natural gas market, Orders637 and 637-A, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District ofColumbia (Case No. 00-1217) (see NGI, Feb. 14 and May 22)

Producers and industrial gas customers have filed petitions forreview of FERC’s latest revisions to the natural gas market, Orders637 and 637-A, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District ofColumbia (Case No. 00-1217). (See Daily GPI, Feb. 10 & May18)

FERC commissioners last week finalized revisions to rules foroff-the-record communications between commissioners and key staffand persons outside the Commission. Chairman James Hoecker said thenew rule (Order No. 607) provides a balance that “will supply theclarity and precision we need. They should facilitate better accessto information while ensuring the integrity of our processes.”

FERC commissioners Wednesday finalized revisions to rules foroff-the-record communications between commissioners and key staffand persons outside the Commission. Chairman James Hoecker saidthe rule provides a balance that “will supply the clarity andprecision we need. They should facilitate better access toinformation while ensuring the integrity of our processes.”

Consolidated Natural Gas Co. (CNG) set records for both reserveadditions and production for 1998. Reserve additions in explorationand production totaled 413 Bcfe through additions, revisions, andpurchases, topping the company record of 368 Bcfe set in 1985.Included are 39 Bcf of reserves bought from The Peoples Natural GasCo., a CNG distribution company, late in 1998.