[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 122 (Monday, June 26, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 32952-32953] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-15505] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP95-565-000] Equitrans, Inc.; Notice of Application June 20, 1995. Take notice that on June 15, 1995, Equitrans, Inc. (Equitrans), 3500 Park Lane, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275, filed in Docket No. CP95-500-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing Equitrans to recove the costs associated with implementing a new technology for decreasing the investment in cushioning storage reservoirs by replacing the natural gas serving as cushion gas in Equitrans' Shirley reservoir in Tyler and Doddridge Counties, West Virginia with nitrogen, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. Equitrans proposes to inject up to 300 Mmcf of nitrogen into the existing Shirley storage reservoir, but states that the reservoir will not be physically enlarged. According to Equitrans, less of the natural gas will need to remain in the reservoir to maintain the working capacity and deliverability of the reservoir, and the former cushion gas replaced with nitrogen will thereby be available for withdrawal, sale and public consumption. Equitrans proposes that the cushion natural gas withdrawn will be replaced by nitrogen at a lower cost to Equitrans' ratepayers. In order to execute this procedure Equitrans state that it will contract with a third party to install temporary facilities at the surface of the Shirley reservoir to produce the nitrogen needed for injection. The nitrogen generation facilities will be installed and removed by the provider. It is stated that the cost of constructing these facilities will be included in the unit cost of nitrogen which will be purchased by Equitrans at the point of injection. Equitrans states that the wells that will be used in this project are owned and operated by an independent producer of natural gas. It is stated that these wells were dually completed to allow access by Equitrans to the storage formation. Under an existing operating and farmout agreement between Equitrans and the producer, Equitrans states that it will withdraw cushion natural gas from the storage reservoir for one year prior to injecting nitrogen. Equitrans proposes to commence nitrogen injection in late 1996 or early 1997. Equitrans states that the natural gas that will be replaced as cushion gas by nitrogen under this proposal is currently reflected in Equitrans' ratebase at $1.10 per Mcf. Upon the sale of the natural gas that no longer needs to remain in the reservoir as cushion rates, Equitrans proposes to credit its ``Account 117, Gas stored udnerground--noncurrent'' by the amount that the gas is currently reflected in the rate base. Equitrans states that it will correspondingly debit the appropriate rate base account for the lower cost of the nitrogen. Equitrans contends that this rate base reduction will be included in rate base accounts chargeable to Equitrans' jurisdictional customers. It is stated that the cost of service impact of this rate base reduction will be included in Equitrans' next general Section 4(e) rate filing to be made in August of 1997, and will provide customers with rate benefits while maintaining the same level and reliability of storage service. Equitrans further requests that the certificate issued herein provides that in the event of project failure, Equitrans be guaranteed recovery of the current book value of its Shirley facilities, together with a return on its investment in these facilities. Equitrans states that this regulatory protection is consistent with the Commission's treatment of the coal gasification projects undertaken in the 1970s. Equitrans states that its proposal to offer its Shirley reservoir as a demonstration site will culminate the effort begun by the Gas Research Institute (GRI) in 1985 that has involved a variety of industry participants. It is stated that the potential benefits to the public of this project are significant, given the readily transferable nature of the technology to Equitrans' other storage reservoirs and to other storage operators in the industry. [[Page 32953]] Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with reference to said application should on or before July 11, 1995, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20436, a motion to intervene or a protest in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the Commission will be considered by it in determining the appropriate action to be taken but will not serve to make the protestants parties to the proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party to a proceeding or to participate as a party in any hearing therein must file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules. Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in and subject to jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by Sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a hearing will be held with further notice before the Commission or its designee on this application if no motion to intervene is filed within the time required herein, if the Commission on its own review of the matter finds that a grant of the certificate is required by the public convenience and necessity. If a motion for leave to intervene is timely filed or if the Commission on its own motion believes that a formal hearing is required, further notice of such hearing will be duly given. Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, it will be unnecessary for Equitrans to appear or be represented at the hearing. Lois D. Cashell, Secretary. [FR Doc. 95-15505 Filed 6-23-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M