MID-ATLANTIC CONTINGENCY PLANNING GROUP
October 18, 2005
The fall meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Contingency Planning Group was held at the Dominion Cove Point LNG facility in Cove Point, Maryland and hosted by DTI. Todd Smith called the meeting to order.
The following were in attendance:
Chairman: Todd Smith (Roanoke Gas)
Vice Chairman: Tom Gibson (Columbia Distribution)
Secretary: Drew Moncol (VA Power)
Ed Unger South Jersey Gas
Ray Wenzel South Jersey Gas
Jody Derrickson DTI
Mike Squires DTI
Ed Ellyson DTI
Ed Turowski Baltimore G & E
Jim Cosgrove Washington Gas
P. Scott Murphy Washington Gas
Walter Dalton Roanoke Gas
Bill Christian Columbia Gas Transmission
David Blake Columbia Gas Transmission
Brian Blount Columbia Gas Transmission
Wayne Page Duke Energy
Barry Bond Duke Energy
Columbia Gas Transmission – Summer Deliveries: Total deliveries for the Apr – Sep period were 311 mmDth, topping last year’s total of about 294 mmDth. This summer’s monthly delivery average was about 52 mmDth, while last year’s average was approximately 49 mmDth per month.
The total power load this summer was 43.2 mmDth as compared to 33.9 mmDth last year. The power load amounts to almost 14% of TCO’s total deliveries this summer.
Weather Related Issues: No significant operational problems were experienced until Hurricane Katrina hit on August 28. Most of Col Gulf’s facilities were spared. However, gas flows coming from producers and other pipelines were reduced substantially. Col Gulf and TCO were still able to meet all firm commitments. Problems included land phone service, cell phone service, and the transmission of gas flow data through SCADA was unreliable at many locations.
Hurricane Rita hit on September 24. Storm surge covered much of the coastal areas in SW Louisiana. This surge did a great deal of damage to Col Gulf’s Pecan Island Compressor Station. The center of this hurricane actually passed within 10 miles of Col Gulf’s Vermillion Block 245 offshore platform that had been evacuated.
On September 26, Col Gulf issued a force majeure notice for meters upstream of and including Egan measuring station.
Continuing Hurricane Damage: Receipt points at Dynergy – Venice, Exxon/Mobile – Grand Isle, and CMS – Sea Robin.
Integrity Management Program: TCO, CGT and Crossroads have pigged approximately 815 miles of pipeline in 7 states. Some of the major pig operations were: all 3 mainlines on CGT system from Stanton to Leach, SM-80 and SM-80 Loop from Ceredo to Lanham to State Line. Note: The 50% High Consequence Area (HCA) regulatory requirement for 2007 will require increased activity the next 2 years such that there will be a greater potential for immediate or scheduled remediation to occur.
-Resumption and timing of the Gulf of Mexico gas supplies
-Balance between flowing supply and storage to meet firm markets
-Potential for more restrictions concerning non-firm gas
-Potential for less storage flexibility as we have had in the past (e.g. excess MDWQ)
A. Weather Statistics
1. Throughput
· YTD 780 Bcf
· April – October 21 458 Bcf
B. Storage Operations
1. Starting volume in storage
· Customer inventory stood at 26% full March 31, 2005
2. Percent of customers’ contract quantity in storage
· As of October 9, 2004, customers were 96% full.
3. Volumes injected
· Total injections this season have been 209 Bcf and were highest early in the injection season.
4. Comparison to previous injection season
· Storage inventories and injection patterns closely resemble 2004 injection season.
C. Pipeline Activities
1. Pigging
• Smart pigged approximately 225 miles of pipelines.
2. Compressor activities
· Put into service Loudoun and Pleasant Valley compressor stations.
3. New projects
· Completed all Mid-Atlantic project work.
4. 2006 Planned Work
· Install Launchers and Receivers on TL-523 (Pleasant Valley)
· TL-520 relocation work (Possum Point line)
D. Upcoming Winter Operations
1. Storage activities
· Currently completing planned fall pool shut-in inventory verification tests.
· Routine maintenance has been completed on compressor engines
E. Business
1. Miscellaneous business issues (i.e. Operator Qualifications, S.C.A.D.A., Merger Activities, etc.)
· Beginning to plan for SCADA system upgrade in 2006
o Telvent OASYS Version 6.2 Server Hardware
Cove Point: Cove Point unloaded 58 ships YTD, 160 BCF. Since reactivation 160 ships 428 BCF. Number 1 import terminal in the states last half of 2004 and first half of 2005.
East Tennessee – Patriot Pipeline - completed construction of 95 miles of 24” pipeline to interconnect with TRANSCO.
Integrity Management Program: Smart pigging, hydrostatic testing to increase capacity, and replacement of 20 miles of 24” line to increase capacity all of which was ongoing this past summer.
Hurricane losses: Katrina caused losses of 620,000 Dth per day on TETCO with only 170,000 Dth per day back. Processing plants remain out of service and may require as much as 6 months to repair. Concern expressed about gas quality as well as all other pipelines.
Roanoke Gas – Todd Smith reported that their storage contracts were 95% full as well as their LNG filled.
Through out the summer code compliance upgrades were ongoing.
Columbia of Virginia/Maryland – Tom Gibson reported that the summer of 2005 was warmer than the summer of 2004 for both CMD and CVA.
Storage: CMD began the season with 24% of SCQ and plans to end 99% full. CVA began the season with 23% of SCQ and plans to end 99% full.
Washington Gas – reports that this summer was 20% warmer than normal.
Storage was approximately 97% full on all pipelines. Propane storage is within 7 rail cars of being full. LNG storage is full. Salt dome storage is approximately 70% full. WGL may expand its LNG storage in 2009 / 2010 timeframe.
Gas quality is both a physical and political issue for WGL as the Metro buses are CNG fueled. Because gas is compressed to 3000 psig, the dew point and heavies can cause problems.
Baltimore G&E – Ed Turowski reported that their LNG facility will be filled by Thanksgiving, conventional storage nearly full, and propane storage is filled.
Interruptible customers (120) may see interruptions this winter where the actual interruption is needed in order to protect system integrity.
South Jersey Gas – Ed Unger reported that IT customers were interrupted due to the hurricanes affecting supply.
There was significant work ongoing and completed this summer including installation of 4 miles of 20” pipeline, work on their LNG boil off system, etc.
Summer electric generation usage rose from a contract level of 900,000 Dth for a customer to 2 BCF.
Power Plants
Virginia Power reported that 5 new hourly records were set this summer. Since joining PJM in May, Virginia Power has seen an increase in peaking power dispatching.
The group also reported that peaking power plants were dispatched more frequently and at odd times relative to hot weather or what would normally be anticipated. The pipelines will monitor these different dispatch patterns.
Election of New Officers
Chairman – Tom Gibson
Vice Chairman – Drew Moncol
Secretary – David Blake
The meeting was adjourned at 100 p.m. and a tour of the Cove Point facility was conducted by Mr. Michael Gardner.