Solution

The East Coast of Canada, now one of the hot spots for new oiland gas exploration and development, could “definitely” be a partof the solution to New England’s energy needs, Premiers John Hammof Nova Scotia and Brian Tobin of Newfoundland and Labrador toldattendees at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houstonyesterday.

California’s continuing uphill struggle for a market-basedsolution to its proposed restructuring of the wholesale natural gastransmission and storage business will be extended through Januaryin hopes that upwards of 75 market participants can attain anegotiated all-party settlement. A California Public UtilitiesCommission administrative law judge overseeing the statewide gascase and the CPUC President Richard Bilas indicated Wednesday (Oct.27) they were willing to allow more time.

FERC’s attempt at a “Solomonic solution” to the ongoing debateover the function of Sea Robin Pipeline – dividing the offshoresystem in two, with the smaller part being declared transportationand the larger section found to be gathering – apparently hasfailed miserably, with both pipelines and their customers citingshortcomings with the remand decision and seeking rehearing. If theSea Robin ruling is upheld by FERC, the case – which has beenpending since 1995 – would be headed back to the courts for asecond time.

FERC’s attempt at a “Solomonic solution” to the lingering feudover the function of Sea Robin Pipeline — dividing the offshoresystem in two, with the smaller part being declared transportationand the larger section found to be gathering-apparently has failedmiserably. Both pipelines and their customers have cited shortfallswith the decision and are seeking rehearing. If the Sea Robinruling is upheld by FERC on rehearing, the case — which has beenpending since 1995 — would be headed back to the courts for asecond time.

The gas industry’s long and winding road from pipelineelectronic bulletin boards (EBBs) to the Internet is heading backto the Gas Industry Standards Board Executive Committee for furtherdebate. However, progress has been made as GISB has so far narrowedthe number of proposals for Internet transition from seven down totwo, with the GISB Executive Committee strongly in favor of one,known as Model 2 or CAMEL, the Consortium Advancing MutualElectronic Links. The Executive Committee (EC) previously voted outModel 2 and Model 1 to be sent to the board. Model 2 received 19votes from EC members, while Model 1 received only two votes. TheGISB board of directors decided rather than choose one or send bothproposals to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) itwould send them back to the EC in the hope one or a combination ofthe two could be decided upon.