![]() ![]() LNG facilities, which are scattered around the region, representthe only other storage, with a combined current deliverability ofalmost 500 MMcf/d at four facilities. It is an aquifercurrently expanding from 15 to 18 Bcf working gas capacity withdeliverability going from a top rate of 550 MMcf/d to 850 MMcf/d. The only other underground gas storage, the Jackson Prairiefacility, is located in southwest Washington. Mist, which consists of a lot of porous sandconducive to quick injection/withdrawal similar in some respects tosalt caverns found elsewhere, is the only commercial gas field inthe region at present. Itsfirst stage expansion will move those figures to 8.5 Bcf and 125MMcf/d next month, if everything works as Friedman envisions.Ultimately, he wants to add another four depleted gas reservoirs inthe next six years. Northwest Natural hasmaintained storage rights and as reservoirs have become depletedsince 1989, it has developed the Mist storage operation, with 6.5Bcf of working gas capacity and 80 MMcf/d of deliverability. Mist always has been operated by out-of-state producers-firstfrom California and now from Texas-peaking at about 10 MMcf/d inthe 1980s and now down to 3 to 4 MMcf/d. They find little pockets of gas, but notenough to be commercially viable.” Therehave been other exploration programs all through Oregon andWashington, obviously not as extensive as you would find in Texasand Oklahoma, but there have been many wells drilled over the yearsand there continue to be. “People have been looking for gas for years,” Friedman said.”Mist was not found just because anyone knew gas was there. Underground storage has its limits, however, unless anotherproductive gas field like Mist, OR, is found, according to RandyFriedman, Northwest Natural’s gas supply manager, who last monthgave an overview on storage in the region to an industry groupgathered in Portland where Northwest is headquartered. Also, the Northwesthas been moving away from its historic reliance on cheaphydro-electric power and wood. Also,since electricity cannot be stored, power producers increasinglyare putting in gas turbines, which can be quickly fired up forpeaking, drawing on natural gas from storage. With more competitive electric and gas industries, the thrust inthe Northwest – as in most other regions – is for faster injectionand withdrawals with more cycling of gas storage facilities.Unbundled energy services require tighter load balancing. We have lookedat a variety of technologies and locations for everything fromunderground storage to liquefied natural gas (LNG).” “We really believe(storage) is much needed in the Pacific Northwest. “Wedefinitely are interested in storage opportunities (either on ourown or in partnership with a merchant operator),” said LeslieFerron-Jones, spokesperson for Portland-based PG&E GasTransmission-Northwest, noting at this point, it has nothing farenough along in development to talk about. ![]() ![]() That doesn’t stop other players from looking for more. ![]()
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