Updates

FERC last Thursday approved a final rule that updates and improves standards for business practices of interstate natural gas pipelines, including new and revised standards aimed at improving the coordination between pipelines and electric utilities.

FERC Thursday approved a final rule that updates and improves standards for business practices of interstate natural gas pipelines, including new and revised standards aimed at improving the coordination between pipelines and electric utilities.

The cause of an apparent “well control incident” at a Chesapeake Energy Corp. natural gas drilling site in Wyoming was under investigation Wednesday, and the producer was preparing resources and equipment to get it under control. No injuries were reported.

Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale operators produced nearly as much natural gas in the first six months of 2011 as they did in the previous year and a half, according to new Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) data.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is ordering water treatment plants in the state to immediately test for radioactivity and other contaminants from Marcellus Shale wastewater.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Wednesday visited three Gulf of Mexico drilling rigs — two active and one idle — to receive updates on industry compliance with new inspection requirements and safety specifications for blowout preventers (BOPs) and well construction.

While a number of major midwestern and eastern gas consuming regions were being assaulted by a wintery mix Tuesday, natural gas futures traders pushed March futures 14.1 cents higher to $7.367. Trading was confined to a slim 19-cent range.

After beginning construction in May of this year, Tidelands Oil & Gas Corp. said Wednesday that its Reef International LLC pipeline crossing into Mexico is expected to begin gas flow on Nov. 1 (see Daily GPI, May 22). The 12-inch diameter pipeline, which initially will transport about 5 MMcf/d of gas from Eagle Pass, TX, to the state of Coahuila, Mexico, could be expanded later to ship 15 MMcf/d (see Daily GPI, May 31, 2002).

Enron Corp. remains committed to spinning off three businesses once it emerges from bankruptcy, according to an updated court filing Thursday. CrossCountry Energy would hold Enron’s North American pipelines, Prisma Energy International would consist of 18 foreign assets and Portland General Electric (PGE) would be a stand-alone utility. However, the restructuring CEO noted that Enron reserves the right to sell any of its businesses until the initial distribution of stock.