Tentative

Reports of rising power generation load for gas as spring temperatures continue to go up were spotty Tuesday, but there apparently was enough demand to prompt moderate spot price firmness in the face of major weakness in the energy futures complex the day before.

Maintenance at the Sable Offshore Energy Processing Plant that had been scheduled for April 16-19 (see Daily GPI, April 2) was postponed. The tentative work period now is from midnight April 18 to midnight April 20. Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline expects only about 35% of capacity to be available for deliveries during that time. Full system capabilities are anticipated for April 21.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved atentative settlement agreement with Equitable Gas Co. following anexplosion in September 1998 that killed one person. The explosionoccurred after an Equitable employee failed to accurately mark agas line to a home for repair by Duquesne Light Co. Duquesne Lightthen damaged the line, which caused the explosion in McKeesport,PA.

The Minerals Management Service has scheduled its only Eastern Gulf of Mexico sale in its current five-year leasing plan – and the first proposed sale in the eastern section of the Gulf in more than 12 years. Proposed lease sale 181, scheduled December 2001, would include 1,033 blocks covering 5,949 million acres – about 8% of the total area in the Eastern Gulf Planning Area.

The Minerals Management Service has scheduled its only EasternGulf of Mexico sale in its current five-year leasing plan — andthe first proposed sale in the eastern section of the Gulf in morethan 12 years. Proposed lease sale 181, scheduled December 2001,would include 1,033 blocks covering 5,949 million acres — about8% of the total area in the Eastern Gulf Planning Area.