SOC Follow-Up Report - System Wide Draft Condition
DURATION OF EVENT
A system-wide Strained Operating Condition ("SOC") for a Draft condition was declared by EPNG as follows:
Effective: Gas Days July 28 and July 29, 2020
Imbalance Threshold: 5%
AFFECTED AREA(S)/LOCATION(S)
All shippers system-wide were subject to the requirements of the SOC declaration.
TIMELINE
[7/27/20, 11:08 am Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)] EPNG issued a system-wide SOC Warning for a draft condition (Critical Notice No. 609197).
[7/28/20, 6:17 am MDT] EPNG declared a system-wide SOC for a draft condition effective Gas Day July 28, 2020 with the imbalance threshold set at 5 percent (Critical Notice No. 609203).
[7/30/20, 9:15 am MDT] EPNG lifted the subject SOC for a draft condition effective Gas Day July 30, 2020 (Critical Notice No. 609224).
APPLICABLE OPERATING CONDITIONS
Monday, Gas Day July 27
- Linepack started the day at 7,616 MMcf (8:00 am MDT).
- At 11:08 am MDT EPNG issued a system-wide SOC Warning for a draft condition. EPNG stated that the lower linepack it was experiencing was the result of actual takes in excess of scheduled deliveries. EPNG noted its concern about the above average heat forecasted to move into the Desert Southwest and the ability to maintain adequate linepack.
- Washington Ranch was placed on withdrawal and averaged 21 MMcf/d for the day.
Tuesday, Gas Day July 28
- Linepack started the day at 7,459 MMcf (8:00 am MDT), which was a decrease of 157 MMcf as compared to 8:00 am MDT on Gas Day July 27.
- At 6:17 am MDT, EPNG declared a system-wide SOC for a draft condition due to actual takes in excess of scheduled quantities at several locations. Additionally, Rate Schedule IHSW service was suspended.
- Washington Ranch was on maximum operational withdrawal and averaged 60 MMcf/d for the day.
Wednesday, Gas Day July 29
- Linepack started the day at 7,606 MMcf (8:00 am MDT), which was an increase of 147 MMcf as compared to 8:00 am MDT on Gas Day July 28.
- Washington Ranch was on maximum operational withdrawal in the morning. However, by the afternoon, withdrawal was no longer possible given the pressures on the system resulting from high utilization of EPNG's south mainline.
Thursday, Gas Day July 30
- Linepack started the day at 7,841 MMcf (8:00 am MDT), which was an increase of 235 MMcf as compared to 8:00 am MDT on Gas Day July 29.
- At 9:15 am MDT EPNG lifted the system-wide SOC declaration for a draft condition and stated that the pipeline system would remain in an SOC Warning through the weekend, given concerns about the above average heat in the Desert Southwest.
ACTIONS TAKEN BY EPNG AND SHIPPERS
The following actions were taken to increase the overall system linepack:
1. Prior to the SOC declaration, Washington Ranch was on maximum operational withdrawal and remained as such until the afternoon of July 29th.
2. EPNG declared a system-wide SOC for a draft condition on July 28 at 6:17 am MDT, which remained in effect for Gas Days July 28 and July 29, 2020.
3. Assistance was sought from other pipelines and interconnects during the SOC to increase deliveries and maintain receipts at or less than scheduled quantities.
4. After EPNG declared the SOC, customers took corrective actions to align their scheduled supplies with their actual deliveries.