El Paso Natural declared a Strained Operating Condition (SOC) for a Draft condition on its entire system Friday. The imbalance tolerance was set initially at 10%, but El Paso said it would reduce the tolerance level if conditions did not improve sufficiently. “A combination of receipt underperformance and takes in excess of scheduled quantities has resulted in a substantial loss of linepack on EPNG’s system with linepack at approximately 7,200 MMcf,” the pipeline said. “Washington Ranch [storage facility] is on withdrawal at maximum rate.”

Kern River said Williams Field Services (WFS) had received contaminants early Thursday on the front end of the WFS-operated Opal Plant from the Jonah (Teppco) receipt point, and the subsequent reduction in Opal throughput caused a decrease of nearly 100,000 Dth in Kern River linepack. That left the pipeline unable to keep its markets whole, Kern River said. However, processing capabilities at the plant appeared to be improving gradually Friday, it added.

Designation of a Critical Day in numerous market areas (see the bulletin board for list) would remain in effect through at least Tuesday, Columbia Gas said. During a Critical Day zero nonfirm capacity is available in the affected areas.

Affiliated pipelines Panhandle Eastern and Trunkline said Friday that in preparation for the expected colder weather, no “unparking” using their Autopark service would be allowed Saturday through Monday. Parking service would remain available, they said.

Southern Natural Gas extended a Type 6 OFO for short imbalances through at least Monday but said it was “too close to call” on whether the OFO will remain in effect Tuesday.

Columbia Gulf resumed accepting receipt nominations Saturday for up to 612,281 Dth/d from Sea Robin-Erath. Columbia Gulf had limited takes at the location to 100,000 Dth/d Wednesday after the Hess-operated Sea Robin Gas Processing Plant began a maintenance outage (see Daily GPI, Jan. 16).

Tennessee lifted Friday the force majeure declaration that had caused three Eugene Island platforms offshore Louisiana to shut in a little more than a week earlier (see Daily GPI, Jan. 11).

Gulf South is gradually adding points where service from its East Texas-to-Mississippi expansion project is available; see the bulletin board for details.

Based on current operating conditions, NGPL said effective Saturday (Jan. 19) until further notice, it is scheduling Firm Primary only for deliveries at its interconnect with Texas Eastern in Cameron Parish, LA.

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