[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51440-51442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25190]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-790-000, et al.]


Nautilus Pipeline Company, L.L.C., et al.; Natural Gas 
Certificate Filings

September 25, 1996.
    Take notice that the following filings have been made with the 
Commission:

1. Nautilus Pipeline Company, L.L.C.

[Docket Nos. CP96-790-000; CP96-791-000; CP96-792-000]

    Take notice that, on September 16, 1996, Nautilus Pipeline Company, 
L.L.C. (Nautilus), 5555 San Felipe, Houston, Texas 77056, filed an 
application for: (1) a certificate of public convenience and necessity, 
pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), authorizing 
Nautilus to construct and operate approximately 101 miles of 30-inch 
diameter pipeline and ancillary facilities (Docket No. CP96-790-000); 
(2) a blanket certificate, pursuant to Part 284, Subpart G of the 
Commission's Regulations, authorizing Nautilus to provide both firm and 
interruptible transportation services to others (Docket No. CP96-791-
000); and (3) a blanket certificate, pursuant to Part 157, Subpart F of 
the Commission's Regulations, authorizing Nautilus to construct and 
operate certain facilities under Section 7 of the NGA (Docket No. CP96-
792-000), all as more fully set forth in the application, which is on 
file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
    Nautilus is a limited liability company, organized under the laws 
of the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business located 
in Houston, Texas. Nautilus' owners include: (1) Sailfish Pipeline 
Company, L.L.C., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leviathan Gas Pipeline 
Partners, L.P. (25.67%); (2) Marathon Gas Transmission, Inc., an 
affiliate of Marathon Oil Company (24.33%); and (3) Shell Seahorse 
Company, an affiliate of Shell Offshore, Inc. (50.00%). Nautilus states 
that, although it does not currently own any pipeline facilities and is 
not currently engaged in any natural gas transportation operations, it 
will become a natural gas company, subject to the Commission's 
jurisdiction, upon acceptance of the certificates requested in the 
subject application.
    Nautilus proposes to construct and operate approximately 101 miles 
of 30-inch diameter pipeline. According to Nautilus, the proposed 
pipeline will be able to deliver up to 600,000 Mcfd on a firm basis, 
and will cost approximately $121 million in 1996 dollars. Nautilus 
states that the pipeline will receive gas at Ship Shoal Block 207, from 
Manta Ray Offshore Gathering Company, L.L.C., and transport it to Exxon 
U.S.A. Inc.'s Garden City Gas Processing Facility (Exxon's Garden City 
Plant), located at Garden City, in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. As 
proposed, the pipeline will extend from a platform in Ship Shoal Block 
207, offshore Louisiana, to a location near Burns Point, onshore 
Louisiana, where it will interconnect with the Burns Point Gas 
Processing Facility. From there, it will extend to and terminate at 
Exxon's Garden City Plant.
    Nautilus states that the proposed pipeline has been designed to 
transport natural gas to the onshore pipeline grid, from both shallow 
and deep water locations in the Gulf of Mexico, including offshore, 
Louisiana sources in the Green Canyon, Ship Shoal, Grand Isle, Eugene 
Island, South Timbalier, and Ewing Bank areas. According to Nautilus, 
it will neither own nor operate any gas processing facilities and does 
not plan to enter into any gas processing agreements. Nautilus states 
that, at Garden City, gas exiting the proposed pipeline may be 
delivered to the pipeline facilities of Koch Gateway Pipeline Company, 
Trunkline Gas Company, Columbia Gulf Transmission Company, Louisiana 
Intrastate Gas Company, Acadian Pipeline System, and Cypress Gas 
Pipeline Company.
    Nautilus states that it has received transportation commitments for 
reserves from more than 100 blocks in the Ship Shoal, South Timbalier, 
Ewing Bank, and Green Canyon areas, and that additional commitments are 
expected to result from an open season to be held

[[Page 51441]]

from September 16, 1996 to October 31, 1996.
    According to Nautilus, the first gas to be transported through the 
proposed pipeline will come from deep-water oil reserves underlying 
Green Canyon Blocks 200, 201, 244, and 245 (the Troika development). 
Nautilus states that Troika, a subsea development in 2,700 feet of 
water, is expected to produce up to 80,000 Bopd and 150,000 Mcfd of 
casinghead gas, beginning in the fall of 1997. Nautilus states that, at 
this time, 100,000 Mcfd of Troika's casinghead gas is committed to 
Nautilus.
    In addition to the Part 284, Subpart G blanket certificate that 
Nautilus seeks, Nautilus requests that the Commission approve its 
proposed initial rates and corresponding tariff, under which Nautilus 
would offer firm transportation service under three different rate 
schedules, and interruptible transportation service under a single IT 
rate schedule. Nautilus proposes to render traditional firm 
transportation service (with reservation and commodity charges) under 
its proposed FT-1 rate schedule, and flexible firm transportation 
services under its FT-2 and FT-3 rate schedules. According to Nautilus, 
rate schedules FT-2 and FT-3, which contain provisions implementing 
conditional reservation charges, are designed to permit shippers to pay 
for service on a volumetric basis, commit for a longer or shorter term, 
adjust contract volumes, receive authorized overrun service, and 
exercise capacity release rights. Nautilus' tariff also includes a 
proposed priority for casinghead gas delivered under the firm rate 
schedules, so as to avoid shutting-in oil production.
    Nautilus also requests a waiver of Sec. 154.109(c) of the 
Commission's Regulations, which requires the General Terms and 
Conditions of an FERC gas tariff to contain a statement of the order in 
which a company discounts its rates and charges, specifying the order 
in which various rate components will be discounted, in accordance with 
Commission policy. In addition, Nautilus requests a waiver of 
Secs. 284.7(c)(1) and 284.8(d) of the Commission's Regulations, to the 
extent that the Commission determines that the proposed conditional 
reservation charges under the FT-2 and FT-3 rate schedules require it, 
plus a waiver of Sec. 284.243(b) of the Commission's Regulations, which 
requires that firm shippers be permitted to release their capacity, in 
whole or in part, permanently or on a short-term basis.
    Comment date: October 16, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

2. ANR Pipeline Company

[Docket No. CP96-797-000]

    Take notice that on September 18, 1996, ANR Pipeline Company (ANR), 
500 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48243 filed in Docket No. 
CP96-797-000 a request pursuant to Sections 157.205, and 157.211 of the 
Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205 and 
157.211) for approval and permission to construct and operate a 
delivery tap for Gibson County Utility District (Gibson), under the 
blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP88-532-000, pursuant to 
Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), all as more fully set forth 
in the request which is on file with the Commission and open to public 
inspection.
    ANR states that it proposes to construct and operate an 
interconnection in Gibson County, Tennessee. ANR further states that 
the proposed interconnection will consist of two four inch taps, 
valving and associated measuring equipment. ANR asserts that the 
volumes to be delivered will be within the certificated entitlement of 
the customer. ANR further asserts that the proposed construction will 
have no adverse impact on its peak day deliveries nor will it have any 
impact on annual entitlement of any of ANR's existing customers. ANR 
indicates that the construction costs of the proposed facilities will 
be approximately $95,900 for which Gibson will reimburse ANR.
    Comment date: November 12, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph G at the end of this notice.

3. Northwest Pipeline Corporation

[Docket No. CP96-805-000]

    Take notice that on September 20, 1996, Northwest Pipeline 
Corporation (Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158, 
filed a prior notice request with the Commission in Docket No. CP96-
805-000 pursuant to Section 157.205 of the Commission's Regulations 
under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) for authorization to partially abandon 
certain undersized facilities and to construct and operate replacement 
facilities at the Twin Falls meter station in Twin Falls County, Idaho, 
under Northwest's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82-433-000 
pursuant to Section 7 of the NGA, all as more fully set forth in the 
request which is open to the public for inspection.
    Northwest proposes to (1) remove approximately 150 feet of 4-inch 
inlet piping, one 750,000 Btu per hour heater, one 4-inch filter, and 
four 4-inch regulators and appurtenances, and (2) install as 
replacement facilities approximately 150 feet of 6-inch inlet piping, 
one 1.5MMBtu per hour heater, one 6-inch filter and four 4-inch control 
valve type regulators and appurtenances at the Twin Falls meter 
station. Northwest states that these upgrades would enable Northwest to 
accommodate existing firm maximum daily delivery obligations to 
Intermountain Gas Company (Intermountain) and its affiliate IGI 
Resources, Inc. (IGI) and to accommodate Intermountain's request for 
additional delivery capacity and delivery pressure under existing firm 
service agreements. Northwest also states that the maximum design 
capacity of the Twin Falls meter station would increase from 
approximately 18,400 Dth per day at 365 psig to approximately 31,000 
Dth per day at 365 psig or 40,870 Dth per day at 500 psig. Northwest 
estimates that it would cost $234,900 to upgrade the Twin Falls meter 
station.
    Comment date: November 12, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph G at the end of this notice.

4. Northwest Pipeline Corporation

[Docket No. CP96-807-000]

    Take notice that on September 20, 1996, Northwest Pipeline 
Corporation (Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158, 
filed in Docket No. CP96-807-000 a request pursuant to Sections 
157.205, 157.211 and 157.216 of the Commission's Regulations under the 
Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205, 157.211 and 157.216) for authorization 
to upgrade its Twin Falls No. 2 Meter Station in Twin Falls County, 
Idaho by partially abandoning existing obsolete meter facilities and 
constructing and operating upgraded replacement facilities under 
Northwest's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82-433-000 
pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set 
forth in the request that is on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection.
    Northwest proposes to upgrade the Twin Falls No. 2 Meter Station by 
removing the existing obsolete 6-inch orifice meter and installing in 
its place a new 4-inch turbine meter run and appurtenances in parallel 
with the existing 4-inch turbine meter run. Northwest states that as a 
result of this proposed upgrade, the maximum design capacity of the 
meter station will increase from approximately 3,980 Dth per day at 175 
psig to approximately

[[Page 51442]]

8,760 Dth per day at 200 psig, as limited by the regulators.
    Northwest states that this meter station upgrade is necessary to 
accommodate a request by Intermountain Gas Company for increased 
delivery capabilities at this point for service under existing firm 
transportation agreements.
    Northwest states that the total cost of the proposed upgrade at the 
Twin Falls No. 2 Meter Station is estimated to be approximately 
$69,300.
    Comment date: November 12, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph G at the end of this notice.

5. Northwest Pipeline Corporation

[Docket No. CP96-808-000]

    Take notice that on September 20, 1996, Northwest Pipeline 
Corporation (Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158, 
filed a prior notice request with the Commission in Docket No. CP96-
808-000 pursuant to Section 157.205 of the Commission's Regulations 
under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) for authorization to partially abandon 
certain facilities and to construct and operate replacement facilities 
at the Pocatello meter station in Bannock County, Idaho, under 
Northwest's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82-433-000 
pursuant to Section 7 of the NGA, all as more fully set forth in the 
request which is open to the public for inspection.
    Northwest proposes upgrade its delivery capacity at the Pocatello 
meter station to better serve the needs of Intermountain Gas Company 
(Intermountain) and its affiliate IGI Resources, Inc. (IGI) under 
existing firm service agreements. Northwest states that the maximum 
design capacity of the Pocatello meter station would increase from 
approximately 18,725 Dth per day at 250 psig to approximately 23,976 
Dth per day at 350 psig, as limited by the regulators. Northwest 
estimates that it would cost $18,100 to upgrade the Pocatello meter 
station.
    Comment date: November 12, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph G at the end of this notice.

Standard Paragraphs

    F. Any person desiring to be heard or make any protest with 
reference to said filing should on or before the comment date file with 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene or a protest in accordance 
with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) 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 without further notice before the Commission or its designee on 
this filing 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 the applicant to appear or be represented at 
the hearing.
    G. Any person or the Commission's staff may, within 45 days after 
the issuance of the instant notice by the Commission, file pursuant to 
Rule 214 of the Commission's Procedural Rules (18 CFR 385.214) a motion 
to intervene or notice of intervention and pursuant to Section 157.205 
of the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a protest 
to the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed 
therefore, the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized 
effective the day after the time allowed for filing a protest. If a 
protest is filed and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time 
allowed for filing a protest, the instant request shall be treated as 
an application for authorization pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural 
Gas Act.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-25190 Filed 10-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P