Scene

Canada’s Far North was the scene Friday (Sept. 10) of anatural-gas industry version of the small step for man but giantleap for mankind on the moon 30 years ago.

The state of New Jersey, scene of a massive natural gas pipeline explosion five years ago, has launched an attack on Transco’s MarketLink project — which had no connection with the blast — demanding more stringent safety requirements on interstate pipelines and additional proof there is a need for added pipeline capacity.

The state of New Jersey, scene of a massive natural gas pipelineexplosion five years ago, has launched an attack on Transco’sMarketLink project – which had no connection with the blast -demanding more stringent safety requirements on interstatepipelines and additional proof there is a need for added pipelinecapacity.

New to the scene as of three months ago, privately held CanadianMidstream Services Ltd. (CMSL) made its first acquisition when itacquired a significant interest in sour natural gas processingfacilities in west central Alberta from Poco Petroleum. Formed inCalgary by four former executives of Pan East Petroleum, which wasbought by Poco in December, CMSL aims to capitalize on assetacquisition opportunities.

While the abundance of gas now in storage has analystspredicting soft prices in the coming months, others suggest thecharacter of storage operations will be changing as more and moremarketers take title to storage capacity from LDCs. Storage held bylocal distribution companies and power generators typically hasbeen used to ensure supply. Marketers holding storage or optimizingstorage assets under contract with LDCs see storage as a financialopportunity in addition to a supply insurance policy. Thearbitrageurs will handle their storage differently when suppliesget tight, said Pete Kinsella, Columbia Gas Transmission vicepresident of marketing and volume management.