Staff

A Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff draft bill would revolutionize the siting of new power transmission lines in the United States, with regional planning entities designated by FERC submitting plans for the Commission’s approval. FERC would have siting and fast-track certificate authority for any high-priority transmission project of 345 kV or higher. Any delays could be appealed to the president.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a joint offer of settlement filed by its enforcement staff and Energy Trans Partners’ Oasis Pipeline and affiliates, which essentially closes the enforcement case against the companies without levying any financial penalties. “The Commission finds that the stipulation and consent agreement is fair, reasonable and in the public interest and [it] is hereby approved,” the order said [IN06-3]. Commissioner Joseph Kelliher, who led the charge in bringing the enforcement action against Oasis Pipeline and affiliates in July 2007, did not participate in the decision. The joint settlement spells out the conditions under which Oasis will provide transportation services to its customers, upgrade its electronic bulletin board, record telephone conversations of its dispatchers for four years, and enhance and maintain its compliance monitoring program. The approval of the settlement comes three months after presiding Administrative Law Judge Bruce L. Birchman in a partial decision dismissed the meat of the FERC enforcement case against Oasis Pipeline — that it discriminated against nonaffiliated shippers in favor of affiliated shippers (see Daily GPI, Nov. 20).

FERC Thursday rejected the uncontested joint settlement entered into by its own Office of Enforcement staff with affiliates of collapsed hedge fund Amaranth Advisors LLC and two of its natural gas traders accused of manipulating the market to influence natural gas futures prices.

FERC Thursday rejected the uncontested joint settlement entered into by its own Office of Enforcement staff with affiliates of collapsed hedge fund Amaranth Advisors LLC and two of its natural gas traders accused of manipulating the market to influence natural gas futures prices.

Schlumberger Ltd., the world’s largest oilfield services company, is laying off 1,000 contractors, operating staff and support personnel across North America because of the deteriorating conditions in the natural gas and oil sector. If market conditions don’t improve, the company warned it could reduce its workforce even more.

FERC enforcement litigation staff and Energy Transfer Partners’ Oasis Pipeline LP have reached an agreement in principle to settle violations of regulations under Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) of 1978.

FERC enforcement litigation staff and Energy Transfer Partners’ Oasis Pipeline LP have reached an agreement in principle to settle violations of regulations under Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) of 1978.

In its final assessment of destroyed and damaged facilities in this past summer’s hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico (GOM) staff estimated that 2,127 production platforms were exposed to winds that were higher than 74 mph.

The Winter Energy Market Assessment for 2008-2009 issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Enforcement staff on Thursday (see Daily GPI, Oct. 17), was issued by Arnie Quinn, not Charles Whitmore. NGI regrets the error.