Tennessee

A segment of the 36-inch diameter Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) owned and operated by El Paso Corp., exploded and caused a fire at about 10:30 p.m. EST Thursday near Dungannon, OH, a spokesman told NGI Friday.

A segment of the 36-inch diameter Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) owned and operated by El Paso Corp., exploded and caused a fire at about 10:30 p.m. EST Thursday near Dungannon, OH, a spokesman told NGI Friday.

Tennessee said due to the anticipated return of colder weather to its market area, an OFO Action Alert will be implemented Friday for all Balancing Parties in downstream Zones 4, 5 and 6. They will be required to maintain an actual daily flow rate not exceeding 2% of scheduled quantities or 500 Dth, whichever is greater, for underdeliveries into the system and overtakes from the system.

Citing limited operational flexibility and storage injection capability, along with high linepack, Tennessee said a systemwide Imbalance Warning to guard against the creation of excessive positive imbalances will take effect Wednesday. Operators of receipt/delivery points must observe the Imbalance Warning requirements “regardless of their cumulative imbalance position,” the pipeline said.

After lifting an OFO Action Alert in downstream Zones 5 and 6 a day earlier, Tennessee proceeded to lift it Tuesday in all remaining zones in which the OFO had still been in effect (0, L, 1, 2, 3 and 4). However, an imbalance warning that was declared Oct. 2 remains in effect, the pipeline said.

After lifting the rest of an OFO Action Alert for its six furthest upstream zones Tuesday, Tennessee said a new one with systemwide impact would be implemented Sunday. It cited limited operational flexibility, mild weather and upcoming Hebron/Ellisburg storage field tests as reasons for the OFO, which requires affected shippers to not exceed a tolerance of 2% of scheduled quantities or 500 Dth, whichever is greater, for overdeliveries into the system and undertakes from the system.

Flat numbers at Tennessee Zone 6 and the PG&E citygate and about a nickel loss at Dracut were the only exceptions to fairly strong price gains Wednesday everywhere else in the market. Temperatures were staying fairly mild across the southern third of the United States, but with lows in the 30s and 40s forecast for Thursday north of there into Canada, it was obvious that heating demand is starting to play an increasing role in the gas price equation.

Tennessee said Wednesday it was lifting a systemwide OFO Action Alert against positive imbalances.

Citing limited operational flexibility, mild weather and testing at its Harrison storage field, Tennessee said a systemwide OFO Action Alert will become effective Thursday until further notice for all Balancing Parties. They are required to maintain an actual daily flow rate not exceeding 2% of scheduled quantities or 500 Dth, whichever is greater, for overdeliveries into the system and undertakes from it.