By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Mar. 5 -- Petal Gas Storage LLC, a unit of El Paso Energy Partners LP, said it would hold a nonbinding open season starting Mar. 11 through Mar. 20 for as much as 5 bcf of firm natural gas storage capacity. Petal is gauging interest for an expansion of its Petal, Miss., storage facility with capacity to be available by Jan. 1, 2004.
"The recent announcement of several greenfield storage projects in Mississippi is evidence of the value of high-deliverability storage downstream of the 'hurricane belt,'" said Petal Gas Storage Pres. Joe Averett, referring to the commonplace shutdowns of gas-producing platforms in the Gulf of Mexico during hurricane season there.
Although Petal is asking mainly for 10-year contract terms, it said it would consider both greater and lesser contract terms.
Petal's system ties in with natural gas transmission and storage systems, including Tennessee Gas Pipeline, Gulf South Pipeline, and Hattiesburg Gas Storage. Petal said it would build a new pipeline—beginning this summer—that would interconnect with its storage facility and other pipelines, including Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line, Southern Natural Gas, and Destin Pipeline.
