TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. finished repairs of the second rupture point on its Nova system Thursday morning and put the stretch of pipe back into service. The two line breaks occurred early last week in a remote section of Alberta, shutting down the 36-inch pipeline and approximately 465 MMcf/d of the 750 MMcf/d throughput. Only 285 MMcf/d was getting through with both ruptures, according to TransCanada spokeswoman Hejdi Feick. After the first rupture was fixed Saturday, the pipeline was moving 313 MMcf/d, she noted, adding that the pipes current throughput was not known yet. While some producers shut in gas during the down time, others turned to alternative shipping channels such as the Alliance Pipeline. TransCanada PipeLines’ preliminary investigations have indicated external corrosion was the likely cause of the ruptures (see Daily GPI, Dec. 5).

El Paso Natural Gas extended an operational flow order and Unauthorized Overpull Penalty situation. The Washington Ranch storage facility is currently on maximum withdrawal. Shippers are urged to review supply/demand balances and the performance of suppliers to ensure sufficient gas is being delivered to El Paso to cover the gas being taken off the system. To insure system integrity, El Paso will place limits on scheduled volumes at interconnects that are under performing.

El Paso said current operating conditions allow an additional increase in the capacity of the Havasu Crossover to 700 MMcf/d, effective Cycle 4, Dec. 11. The company also reported Thursday that Williams 5B was not completed. Therefore, the capacity of the North Mainline will be reduced by 25 MMcf/d for one more day, effective Cycle 2, Dec. 12. Williams C regenerator has developed a leak and will be taken down for repairs Dec. 14 and 15, reducing the capacity of the North Mainline by 250 MMcf/d.

GulfSouth said unscheduled maintenance at its Marksville Compressor No.2 Unit will continue until further notice. Capacity through the Marksville Station could be affected by 150 MMcf/d for the duration of the maintenance.

FGT said station piping maintenance at compressor Station 11 on Sunday will reduce capacity to 1,500,000 MMBtu/d forward haul into the Florida Market Area.

PG&E California Gas Transmission announced pipeline capacity volumes available in its 2004 Open Season: 992,000 Dth/d is available on the Redwood path to on-system delivery points; 110,000 Dth/d on the Baja Path to on-system deliveries; and 3,970,542 Dth of storage capacity is available. Terms from one to 15 years are offered. The company is awaiting a final decision from the CPUC on Gas Accord II – 2004 to affirm its current market structure through 2005.

Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline said its Kansas and Missouri market area is forecast to have colder than normal temperatures and effective immediately and through Saturday the pipeline is requesting that shippers have sufficient gas flowing on the system to meet estimated demand.

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