Systems

Equitable Resources Inc.’s Equitable Midstream unit has launched an open season for expansion of its gathering and transportation systems within the Marcellus fairway from south-central West Virginia to Northwestern Pennsylvania.

With the recent sale of most of its independent generating plants and the acquisition of utility power systems in four western states, Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp. is placing increased emphasis on holding rate-based assets as its riskier plays in the oil/gas exploration and production (E&P) sector lose emphasis. This was the gist of remarks by Black Hills CEO Dave Emery last Tuesday during a second quarter earnings conference call with financial analysts.

With the recent sale of most of its independent generating plants and the acquisition of utility power systems in four western states, Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp. is placing increased emphasis on holding rate-based assets as its riskier plays in the oil/gas exploration and production (E&P) sector lose emphasis. This was the gist of remarks by Black Hills CEO Dave Emery Tuesday during a second quarter earnings conference call with financial analysts.

AGL Resources’ Virginia Natural Gas broke ground Monday for its Hampton Roads Crossing (HRX) pipeline, which will connect its northern and southern pipeline systems for the first time by crossing the Hampton Roads harbor.

PNM Resources, which sold its natural gas operations to Continental Energy Systems just days ago, on Friday said its New Mexico utility PNM will sell its wholesale power, natural gas and transmission contracts to Shell Energy North America (US) LP for $5.8 million.

With a severe ice storm continuing to wreak havoc on power systems in the central U.S. and frigid temperatures remaining in the Wednesday forecast in Canada and from the Rockies and Midcontinent through the Midwest and Northeast, prices continued to rise at a large majority of points Tuesday.

Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) shippers have accused Northern Natural Gas of limiting access to receipt point capacity at the interconnection between the REX and Northern Natural systems to REX shippers that agree to purchase a “phantom backhaul service.”

Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) shippers have accused Northern Natural Gas of limiting access to receipt point capacity at the interconnection between the REX and Northern Natural systems to shippers who agree to purchase a “phantom backhaul service.”

PAA/Vulcan Gas Storage LLC, a joint venture between Plains All American Pipeline LP and Vulcan Capital, said it purchased an additional 240 acres of land adjacent to the proposed 24 Bcf Pine Prairie Energy Center (PPEC) gas storage project near near Pine Prairie, LA, in order to provide space for future expansions. The company said that along with existing acreage the additional land could provide space for another 11 salt caverns, bringing ultimate working gas capacity to 112 Bcf.