![](media/image1.jpeg){width="8.5in" height="3.5027777777777778in"}U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

**Office of Electricity Delivery and\
Energy Reliability**

**ENERGY ASSURANCE DAILY**

**November 30, 2005**

## Highlights/Major Developments

**Update: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma**

For damage assessment and restoration efforts concerning hurricanes, see
the Gulf Coast Hurricanes situation reports from the Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) of the U.S. Department
of Energy @
[[http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov]{.underline}](http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/).
For the latest statistics on shut-in oil and gas production in the Gulf
of Mexico, please click on the following link:
[http://www.mms.gov](http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2005/press1118.htm)

For the latest statistics on shut-in oil and gas production and pipeline
status in Louisiana, please click on the following link:
<http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/pubinfo/daily-onshore-prod.ssi>

######## Electricity

### Update: Damage from Blizzard Staggering -- Miles of Downed Poles

Efforts to restore power to thousands of customers who lost power when
the first blizzard of the season struck the upper midwest on November 28
are continuing. Crews working in portions of North Dakota and Minnesota
have been hampered by miles of downed power poles and damaged
transmission lines. On November 29, officials warned that because of the
extensive damage to transmission lines rolling blackouts could occur,
however with conservation, reduced demand, and repairs the blackouts
were avoided. As of early morning on November 30, Otter Tail Power
estimated that 5,000 customers remained without power, down from about
18,000 just after the storm.

<http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_334103736.html>

<http://wcco.com/local/local_story_330155311.html>

**Duke Energy's 739 MW Gas-fired Moss Landing Unit 6 Generating Facility
in California Shut November 28**

The unit was shut so that unplanned repairs could be performed on a
leaking seawater intake pipe. The company anticipates that the repairs
will take until December 12 to be completed.

Reuters 15:40, November 30, 2005.

######## Petroleum

**EIA: To Avoid Stock Depletion, Imports Must Remain High**

The Energy Information Administration announced on November 29 that oil
imports must remain well above 10 million b/d to make up for the loss of
some 564,000 b/d Gulf Of Mexico production still offline do to damage
from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Reuters 13:48, November 30, 2005.

######## Natural Gas

**Majors Express New Interest in Gas Exploration in U.S.**

Three major oil companies have announced separately that they will
expand exploration for new sources of natural gas in the United States.
The announcement reverses a trend where major companies have been
placing emphasis on exploration activities outside North America.
According to an on-line report by The Wall street Journal BP, Shell, and
Exxon have each committed to expanding their search efforts in the U.S.

<http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/gas/news_article.cfm?id=6123770>

### Repairs to El Paso's Southern Natural Gas System Suspended by Bad Weather

On November 29, El Paso announced that because of bad weather, it has
suspended for approximately 10 days repairs to the Southern Natural Gas
system offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The system suffered damage from
hurricanes Katrina and Rita. El Paso also indicated that repairs to its
Toca 1 gas processing plant also damaged by the hurricanes had been
completed.

Reuters 11:36, November 30, 2005.

**Update: Force Majeure on Natural Gas pipeline Ended by Kinder Morgan**

On November 30, Kinder Morgan announced that the force majeure was ended
that had been in effect on its Natural Gas Pipeline since May 13 when a
failure occurred on the line. Kinder Morgan indicated that the line and
all other lines that were impacted will be in service on December 1.

Reuters 10:49, November 30, 2005.

### Port Authority Failed to Meet State Requirement for Alaska Gas Pipeline

According to a published report from the Associated Press, the Alaska
Department of Revenue has indicated that a proposal by the Alaska
Gasline Port Authority for an all-Alaska gas pipeline did not provide
proof that the Authority has the financial resources to carry out the
proposal.

<http://www.ktva.com/Stories/0,1413,163~34723~3148107,00.html>

**Construction Begins on EnCana Gas Treatment Plant in Colorado**

EnCana has begun construction on a new gas treatment plant located in
western Colorado that will process production from the Piceance Basin.
The plant will have a capacity of 650 million cf/d. and is expected to
be in service early in 2007.

<http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/gas/news_article.cfm?id=6125700>

######## Other News

Nothing to report

######## Energy Prices 

+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+------------+
|                               | **Latest  | **Week    | **Year     |
|                               | (11       | Ago**     | Ago**      |
|                               | /30/05)** |           |            |
+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+------------+
| **CRUDE OIL**                 | 57.33     | 58.35     | 45.56      |
|                               |           |           |            |
| **West Texas Intermediate     |           |           |            |
| US**                          |           |           |            |
|                               |           |           |            |
| \$/Barrel                     |           |           |            |
+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+------------+
| **NATURAL GAS**               | 11.73     | 11.02     | 6.78       |
|                               |           |           |            |
| **Henry Hub**                 |           |           |            |
|                               |           |           |            |
| \$/Million Btu                |           |           |            |
+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+------------+

> Source: Reuters

**This Week in Petroleum** from the Energy Information Administration
(EIA)

[*http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp*](http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp)

Updated on Wednesdays

**Weekly Petroleum Status Report** from EIA**\
**[*http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/wpsr.html*](http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/wpsr.html)

Updated after 1:00 pm (Eastern time) on Wednesdays

**Natural Gas Weekly Update** from EIA

[*http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngw/ngupdate.asp*](http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngw/ngupdate.asp)

*Updated after 2:00 pm (Eastern time) on Thursdays*