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 Day August 28, 2021
Imbalance Threshold: 5%
AFFECTED AREA(S)/LOCATION(S)
All shippers system-wide were subject to the requirements of the SOC declaration.
TIMELINE
[August 26, 2021, 9:56 AM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)] EPNG issued an SOC Warning for a system-wide draft condition (Critical Notice No. 612731).
[August 27, 2021, 9:54 AM MDT] EPNG issued Update #1 to the SOC Warning for a system-wide draft condition (Critical Notice No. 612748).
[August 28, 2021, 7:37 AM MDT] EPNG declared an SOC for a system-wide draft condition effective beginning Gas Day August 28, 2021, with the imbalance threshold set at 5% (Critical Notice No. 612758).
[August 30, 2021, 1:13 PM MDT] EPNG lifted the subject system-wide SOC effective Gas Day August 30, 2021 (Critical Notice No. 612775).
APPLICABLE OPERATING CONDITIONS
Thursday, August 26, 2021
- EPNG system linepack started the Gas Day at 7,360 MMcf, which was a decrease of 227 MMcf compared to the previous Gas Day.
- At 9:56 AM MDT, EPNG posted a System-Wide SOC Warning for a Draft condition (Notice No. 612731) expressing concern that drafting of the system would undermine EPNG's efforts to keep linepack within acceptable limits. In its notice, EPNG stated that the decrease in linepack at the time was due to its efforts to isolate and lower the pressure on EPNG's Line No. 2000, which was affected by a force majeure event. (See Critical Notice No. 612712) The isolation of Line No. 2000 reduced EPNG's linepack flexibility and, consequently, drafting of the system would undermine EPNG's ability to maintain adequate linepack.
- Washington Ranch was on maximum operational withdrawal, averaging 121 MMcf.
Friday, August 27, 2021
- EPNG system linepack started the Gas Day at 7,325 MMcf, which was a decrease of 35 MMcf compared to the previous Gas Day.
- At 9:54 AM MDT, EPNG posted an Update to the System-Wide SOC Warning for a Draft condition (Notice No. 612748) reiterating its concern regarding the drafting of its system.
- Washington Ranch was on maximum operational withdrawal, averaging 178 MMcf.
Saturday, August 28, 2021
- EPNG system linepack started the Gas Day at 7,298 MMcf, which was a decrease of 27 MMcf compared to the previous Gas Day.
- At 7:37 AM MDT, EPNG declared a System-Wide SOC for a Draft condition (Notice No. 612758) effective Gas Day August 28. In its notice, EPNG stated that its system was experiencing a low linepack condition due to deliveries in excess of scheduled quantities. EPNG urged customers to take action to ensure that system pressure would remain at a level capable of meeting scheduled deliveries off EPNG's system. Additionally, Rate Schedule IHSW service was suspended.
- Washington Ranch was on maximum operational withdrawal, averaging 180 MMcf.
Sunday, August 29, 2021
EPNG system linepack started the Gas Day at 7,445 MMcf, which was an increase of 147 MMcf compared to the previous Gas Day.
- Washington Ranch was on maximum operational withdrawal, averaging 119 MMcf.
Monday, August 30, 2021
- EPNG system linepack started the Gas Day at 7,560 MMcf, which was an increase of 115 MMcf compared to the previous Gas Day.
- At 1:13 PM MDT, EPNG lifted the System-Wide SOC for a Draft condition (Notice No. 612775) given that the response from customers was sufficient to increase EPNG's linepack to an acceptable level.
- Washington Ranch was on maximum operational withdrawal, averaging 141 MMcf.
ACTIONS TAKEN BY EPNG AND SHIPPERS
The following actions were taken:
1. EPNG declared a system-wide SOC for a draft condition on August 28 at 7:37 AM MDT. The SOC was in effect for Gas Days August 28 and August 29, 2021 only.
2. Washington Ranch was on withdrawal August 26, 2021 through August 30, 2021 to assist in maintaining linepack.
3. After EPNG declared the SOC, customers took corrective actions to align their scheduled supplies with their actual deliveries.