The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-08-13
COURT ORDERS
DEVELOPMENT
In GAS FIELD
Additional Supply Is To BE
Sought and New Compress
ors Ordered to Take Care
of Present Demand


Co. this week was ordered to in
stall additional equipment at its ma
tural gas wells in Benton county and
begin exploration for new source
of supply within 80 days by the divi-
sion Of public utilities Of the state
department Of public service, says
a special report 10 the Yakima Her
aid.
The department released its find
ings OF facts, opinion and order aft
er reviewing testimony taken at q
hearing here recently at which ex-
pert testimony showed shortage
similar to the one last winter could
be averted by increasing the capac-
ity Of compressors at cost OF
from $1,000 to $4,000.
Cash Advance Ordered
The department ordered Erik II.
Nelson, as mortgage in possession
of the properties of the Northwest
ern Natural Gas corporation OF Del
aware, to advance to r. 3. Newbern,
president Of the corporation, who
led the natural gas development
work in the lower valley, all avail
able sums over and above the actual
necessary operating expenses Of the
company to use for the completion
of deep test wells which Newborn
has begun.
Testimony in the recent hearing
showed the money held In trust aft
err all expenses Of that company and
the Northwestern Natural Gas Co.
of Kansas had been paid totaled
Sos, 900.
Development Needed
The department further ordered
the Northwestern Natural Gas Co.
of Kansas and 9. w. Sears, as trus-
tee for the first mortgage bondhold-
ers, to proceed Immediately with the
development and drilling Of at least
two exploratory or prospecting wells
OH the side OF the fault In The Rat
tlesnake hills Of Benton county or
upon Snopes mountain Or in the vi
cinity Of Mabton or upon other con-
venient or adjacent property as to
make the production commercially
feasible.
Money necessary for this con-
struction should be advanced by
Sears, and the department specif-
ically reserves the right to reallo-
cate or reassess among the parties
subject to its jurisdiction this nee
essary expense when the financial
condition of the parties warrants
the same" the order read.
Parties Must Report
The department ordered the par
ties to report In writing to the de-
partment upon the first and fif-
teenth days Of each month the prog
ress of the undertakings directed
ard ordered
The order for additional equip
ment to avert a shortage next year
included the installation Of 19-inch
cylinders in the two low stage COM
pressors and the addition OF a new
low stage compressor. This, j. w.
Reed of California, representative
of gas equipment supply company
said would guard against recur-
renee of The shortage which caused
hardship in the lower valley last
February, but would not be per-
manent solution of the problem.
Sears was instructed to proceed
within 30 days to contract, purchase
and install the additional compress
sor equipment.
New Supplies Needed
1.-THE addition of new compressor
units, however, will not cure the Sit
uation, but merely palliate It and
permit the customers of the two
utilities to receive sufficient gas for
their needs for a period estimated
at from two to two and one-half
years." the finding Of fact Of the de-
partment read.
witnesses admitted that new wells
must be drilled and that a new gas
field must be located the depart
ment's finding of fact continued,
as this is held to be ordinary good
business in the natural gas industry,
'or unless new gas supplies are con-
stantly sought and discovered serv-
Ice cannot be maintained.
The departments document show
I'd officials were convinced Of the
shortage Of gas last February when
schools were closed, homees made
uncomfortable and abandoned tenn
and stores handicapped due
20 the lack Of heat.
Capacity Too Small
1T was the lack Of compressor ca
,acity, the svidence showed, that
in the shortage" the docu-
nent read.
The Northwestern Natural Gas
90. began operations in the valley
n 1893, extending lines into Pros
YER, Grandview, Sunnyside and
The Northwestern Natural
Gas corporation was Incorporated
March is, 1881, for the extension OF
yas service in Toppenish, Granger
md Zillah.