[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56336-56337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27213]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-626-000]


El Paso Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application for 
Abandonment Authorization

October 13, 1999.
    Take notice that on September 28, 1999, El Paso Natural Gas Company 
(El Paso), a Delaware corporation, whose mailing address is Post Office 
Box 1492, El Paso, Texas 79978, filed an application at Docket No. 
CP99-626, pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), and 
157.5 et seq., of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 
(Commission) Regulations Under the NGA for permission and approval to 
abandon one injection/withdrawal well, the associated well-tie pipe and 
the service rendered by means thereof at the Washington Ranch Storage 
Facility in Eddy County, New Mexico, all as more fully set forth in the 
application on file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
    The application states that the Washington Ranch Storage Facility 
has been in continuous operation since June 30, 1982. The prolonged 
reservoir operation, together with the advancing age of the well bores 
and the surface facilities installed by El Paso, requires continuous 
monitoring of the reservoir and facilities. As a result, El Paso 
identified extensive deterioration of the tubulars of one of the 18 
injection/withdrawal wells, W.I. Federal No. 9 Well (Well No. 9), at 
the Washington Ranch Facility, which deterioration threatened to 
contaminate local groundwater.
    As explained in its June 17, 1999 letter to the Commission, El Paso 
has already completed the plugging of Well No. 9 to prevent serious 
damage.
    The application asserts that the estimated cost to rework (inspect, 
repair, and cement) Well No. 9 and

[[Page 56337]]

return it to 1.4 MMcf per day of field deliverability would be 
approximately $40,000 to $100,000 depending on the severity of any 
unknown problems encountered. In contrast, the cost to plug and abandon 
the well and associated well-tie pipe is approximately $12,500.
    El Paso states that abandonment of Well No. 9 will yield a 
reduction of only 1.4 MMcf per day (approximately 1% reduction) in 
deliverability from the Washington Ranch Storage Facility. The loss of 
1.4 MMcf per day, is negligible and will not materially affect El 
Paso's operations.
    El Paso's environmental analysis supports the conclusion that 
permanently plugging Well No. 9 and associated well-tie pipe is not a 
major Federal action significantly affecting the human environment.
    If there are any further questions regarding this project, the 
following individual may be contacted: Robert T. Tomlinson, Director, 
Tariff and Certificates Department, El Paso Natural Gas Company, 100 
North Stanton, El Paso, Texas 79901, (915) 496-5959.
    Additionally, copies of this application are located at the City of 
Carlsbad Municipal Library in Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should, on or before November 3, 1999 
file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20426, a protest or motion to intervene in accordance with the 
requirements of Rule 211 or 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 or 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 petition to 
intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to the 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 document if no motion to intervene is filed within the time 
required herein, if the Commission on its own review of the matter 
finds that the requested abandonment 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 El Paso to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-27213 Filed 10-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M