Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP’s Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP completed remediation of anomalies on its East Texas and Southeast pipeline projects and has received authorization to operate the pipelines at standard operating pressures, the company said. “We are performing additional tests and will continue to work cooperatively with PHMSA [Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration] in order to obtain the authority to operate these projects at higher operating pressures,” said Boardwalk CEO Rolf Gafvert. Late in June Boardwalk said its 356-mile Gulf Crossing Pipeline had completed remediation of pipe anomalies and had been given the green light by the Department of Transportation to operate the pipeline at normal operating pressures of up to 72% of the specified minimum yield strength (see NGI, July 6). The East Texas Pipeline consists of approximately 242 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline and originates near DeSoto Parish in northwestern Louisiana and proceeds to Harrisville, MS. The Southeast Expansion project consists of approximately 111 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline and originates near Harrisville and extends to an interconnect with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. in Choctaw Country, AL (Transco Station 85).
September
Articles from September
Stone Says Last Year’s Hurricanes Still Hurting Output
Ongoing repairs from hurricanes Ike and Gustav last September continued to hammer Stone Energy’s production at year’s end, the company said late Monday. However, Stone still managed to increase its estimated year-end 2008 proved reserves to 519 Bcfe, well ahead of the 403 Bcfe at year-end 2007.
Chesapeake to Reduce Budget — Again
Chesapeake Energy Corp. is once again planning to cut its capital spending plans, marking the fourth time since September that the country’s largest natural gas producer has reduced spending to shore up liquidity.
El Paso’s Earnings Skyrocket; Belt-Tightening Planned for 2009
El Paso Corp.’s quarterly earnings surged 190%, and in spite of the two Gulf Coast hurricanes that impacted operations in September, the pipeline group and the exploration and production (E&P) unit posted solid returns.
El Paso’s Earnings Skyrocket; Belt-Tightening Planned for 2009
El Paso Corp. Thursday reported a 190% surge in quarterly earnings, and in spite of the two Gulf Coast hurricanes that impacted operations in September, the pipeline group and the exploration and production (E&P) unit posted solid returns.
Wisconsin Utility, Consumer Board Agree on Efficiency Push
Green Bay, WI-based Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (WPS) and the state Citizens Utility Board (CUB) reached agreement early in September on several energy-saving initiatives for the electric and natural gas WPS customers. The CUB filed the stipulation with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) last Tuesday, seeking the regulators’ approval.
Transportation Notes
CIG implemented a Strained Operating Condition (SOC) Wednesday that it expected to remain in effect “through the end of September, unless specifically terminated sooner.” Storage inventories are at or near reservoir guidelines, CIG said, and thus its “ability to absorb imbalances caused by mismatches between scheduled receipts and deliveries or those imbalances arising from variations in actual gas flow from scheduled quantities is extremely limited.” The limitation includes capacity to handle storage injections in excess of each customer’s Available Daily Injection Quantity or inventory levels above Maximum Available Capacity. During the effective period of the SOC capacity for interruptible storage injections will not be available, CIG said.
Idaho PUC Seeks Feedback on Avista Gas Cost Rate Hike
Idaho regulators will seek comments from stakeholders and the general public over the first three weeks of September on Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities’ Aug. 18 request for an $11.6 million, or 14.2%, natural gas rate increase for its 72,000 Idaho customers to recover high wholesale costs of gas. It asked for the rate hike to be effective Oct. 1.
Pelosi Says House to Consider Opening Some OCS Areas
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Saturday the Democratic leadership plans to offer a broad energy bill in September that would open some closed portions of the federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to oil and natural gas drilling. Instead of welcoming her remarks, however, House Republicans continued to be wary.
CFTC’s Data ‘Flawed’ in Speculation Report, Senators Charge
Four Democratic senators have called for an investigation of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) release in mid-July of an interim report that absolves futures market speculators of blame in the run-up of oil prices when the CFTC allegedly knew the report’s data was flawed. The report was issued just days before a Senate vote to curb speculation was blocked.
