Total

Sabine Pipe Line Co., Great Lakes Gas Transmission and Centerpoint Energy-MRT topped the charts in customer satisfaction among a total of 42 interstate pipeline companies in a survey by Mastio & Co. Meanwhile, Trailblazer Pipeline and El Paso Natural Gas Co. fell to the bottom of the ranking, and Centerpoint Energy Gas Transmission showed the sharpest fall in the ranking since last year’s survey.

Sabine Pipe Line Co., Great Lakes Gas Transmission and Centerpoint Energy-MRT topped the charts in customer satisfaction among a total of 42 interstate pipeline companies in a survey by Mastio & Co. Meanwhile, Trailblazer Pipeline and El Paso Natural Gas Co. fell to the bottom of the ranking, and Centerpoint Energy Gas Transmission showed the sharpest fall in the ranking since last year’s survey.

Effective April 1, total nominations at receipt points on its 26-inch Main Pass Line offshore southeast Louisiana increased significantly, Sonat said. Also, it began scheduled maintenance at compressor stations in the production area, and as a result, some interruptible nominations (“A-1” and or “IT”) are not being accepted due to capacity constraints. In addition, several receipt points on the Main Pass Line have been identified at which actual flows are exceeding scheduled flows, the pipeline said. It encouraged all shippers on the line to check scheduled quantities to determine how much of their interruptible receipt nominations were accepted, and asked operators not to overdeliver into the system in order to avoid implementation of a Type 5 OFO.

After four straight days of declines — a total drop of $1.26 — April futures may have begun to stage a reversal on Friday, moving up 14.9 cents to $6.993 on some short covering and additional buying interest. The daily high Friday was $7.110 and the low was $6.870. The increase was just enough to prolong the uncertainty and to keep the record highs of two weeks ago fresh in traders’ minds.

Despite the near total collapse of the merchant energy sector, some natural gas insiders are cautiously optimistic that the market ultimately will deal effectively with the current challenges it faces and new players eventually will fill the gap left by the former merchant energy “titans,” according to a recent study conducted by R. J. Rudden Associates Inc.

Natural gas explorer Western Gas Resources Inc. projected Thursday that its total net production this year will increase to an average of 146 MMcfe/d, or 10% more than 2002. The company plans to spend 30% more for expansion projects this year, with most directed toward coalbed methane (CBM) growth projects in the Powder River and Greater Green River basins.

Natural gas explorer Western Gas Resources Inc. projected Thursday that its total net production this year will increase to an average of 146 MMcfe/d, or 10% more than 2002. The company plans to spend 30% more for expansion projects this year, with most directed toward coalbed methane (CBM) growth projects in the Powder River and Greater Green River basins.

Fleshing out its plans to sell more than $1 billion worth of power plant assets this year, El Paso Corp. last Monday disclosed in a regulatory filing that it expects to close the sale of a 775 MW power plant in New Jersey during the second quarter of this year.

Williams said it cut about $600 million of debt in the fourth quarter to a total of $14 billion and has current liquidity of $1.6 billion. In a brief preview of its year-end financials last Thursday, the company said it expects recurring operating earnings to fall within its previous guidance for 2002 of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion from its gas pipeline, exploration and production, and midstream gas and liquids businesses, along with its investment in Williams Energy Partners