NGS Articles RSS Feed

Windy Hill Extension

Stephanie Gilbey — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:00:00 GMT

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20426

In Reply Refer To:

OEP/DPC/CB-2
Windy Hill Gas Storage, LLC
Docket Nos. CP06-19-000, et al.
§ 375.308(w)(4)
May 5, 2010

James F. Bowe, Jr.

Windy Hill Gas Storage, LLC
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
1101 New York Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20005

Re: Request for an Extension of Time

Dear Mr. Bowe:

In the above referenced dockets, Windy Hill Gas Storage, LLC (Windy Hill) was authorized to construct, own, and operate a natural gas storage facility located in Morgan County, Colorado. In the May 19, 2006 Order, the Commission required that Windy Hill construct and place the facilities in service within four years of the date of the order. On April 28, 2010, Windy Hill requested a three-year extension of time to construct and place into service the subject facilities.

Based upon the facts presented in your request, Windy Hill is granted an extension of time until and including May 19, 2013 to complete and make the facilities authorized in the above referenced docket available for service.

This action is taken pursuant to authority delegated by the Commission in 18 CFR § 375.308(w)(4).

Sincerely,

John M. Wood
Branch Chief
Division of Pipeline Certificates
Office of Energy Projects

cc:    All Parties
         Public files
         Docket Nos. CP06-19-000, et al.

5-May-10 9:00 PM

Tres Palacios ICE Hub Pooling Point

Stephanie Gilbey — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:00:00 GMT

TRES PALACIOS ICE HUB POOLING POINT

Tres Palacios is pleased to announce the creation of the Tres Palacios Hub Pooling Point. The Hub will be available for trading on ICE and scheduling on the Tres Palacios nomination system. Tres Palacios is allowing customers to nominate title transfers free of charge within the pool. Firm Storage customers (with alternate point rights) will also have access to inject and withdrawl(1) to and from the pool subject to their previously negotiated commodity and fuel rates, and all Tariff General Terms and Conditions.

Additionally, Tres Palacios is allowing customers to wheel gas, (IT basis) under its tariff from any receipt point to the Hub Pool Point, free of charge. Customers requesting wheeling service from the Hub for delivery to any interconnect must contact Tres Palacios in order to negotiate a market based rate.

The Tres Palacios Hub Pooling Point should work much like other interstate pooling points, such as NGPL (STX Pool), Tennessee Gas Pipeline (Zone 0 South Pool) and Tetco (STX Pool). Shippers will have access to the pool free of charge on an IT basis, yet must pay to bring gas out of the pool. The Hub Pooling Point does not currently operate in a manner similar to Moss Bluff, HSC Pool, or the Enstor Katy Hub in that it is not buyer’s choice or at a fixed, pre-determined rate.

While wheeling to the pool will be free of charge, nominations could be subject to interruption, consistent with the terms and conditions in the Tres Palacios tariff. Consult with your Tres Palacios representative for daily scheduling restrictions on the Tres Palacios header.

Tres Palacios reserves the right to amend or modify its title transfer rate at the Tres Palacios Hub Pooling Point and its wheeling rate to the Tres Palacios Hub Pooling Point. The waiving of transfer fees applies only to transfers at the Hub and does not include title transfers at any interconnect or in-ground transfer.

We sincerely welcome your input on this new product on behalf of Tres Palacios, so please feel free to contact us as we work to make this product commercially beneficial to your gas storage and wheeling needs.

(1) Per Section 8.3 of the Tres Palacios FERC Gas Tariff, customers are not permitted to nominate simultaneous injection and withdrawal nominations from firm storage on its system during the same nomination cycle.

24-Mar-10 4:00 PM

Arizona Natural Gas Storage Public Open House

Patrice Thurston — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Arizona Natural Gas Storage Public Open House

Arizona Natural Gas Storage LLC (ANGS) is proposing an interstate natural gas storage facility to be located in Pinal County near the City of Eloy to provide high-deliverability, underground natural gas storage capacity to markets throughout Arizona and potentially California to meet a well documented need for additional natural gas storage capacity and deliverability in Arizona and the Western United States.

The proposed Project includes a dual pipeline header to connect the storage facility with two existing interstate natural gas pipelines near Randolph, Arizona and lateral pipelines to gas-fired electric generating facilities. The Project would incorporate facilities to be used for the storage of natural gas transported in interstate commerce, as well as facilities to be used to create underground storage caverns and to receive, compress, withdraw, dehydrate, and redeliver natural gas. The Project Facilities would be subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, as amended (NGA). ANGS is seeking a certificate of public convenience and necessity from FERC under Section 7(c) of the NGA authorizing ANGS to construct the Project and to use the Project Facilities to offer natural gas storage services in interstate commerce.

ANGS is inviting the public to an Open House to present the proposed Project.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Coolidge-Florence Elks Lodge # 2350

2241 North Attaway Road

Coolidge, Arizona 85228

17-Feb-10 2:00 PM

January 29, 2010 Open Season to Begin Monday for Large Arizona Storage Project

Stephanie Gilbey — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Arizona Natural Gas Storage, a subsidiary of NGS Energy, said it will launch a non-binding open season beginning February 1 for firm storage service at a proposed salt-cavern facility to be developed some 35 miles south of Phoenix.

The ANGS project, to be sited in the Picacho Basin in Pinal County, would house up to eight salt caverns with a maximum 20 Bcf of working capacity, with market-based rates. The company said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted its pre-filing application last month; the facility is expected to come online in the summer of 2012.

The project would include a 9.5-mile lateral connecting it to El Paso Natural Gas and Transwestern Pipeline, as well as connections to existing and proposed power plants in Pinal County, ANGS said.

The project was first proposed by El Paso in 2006 (GD 6/22/06). But an official with utility Arizona Public Service told the Arizona Corporation Commission last year that the project was shelved after an unsuccessful open season in which it was the only bidder (GD 4/6).

ANGS announced last spring that it had signed agreements with El Paso regarding the project (GD 5/13).

A bill that would have exempted brine-injection wells related to the creation of gas storage projects from certain groundwater protection requirements failed in the state legislature last year (GD 4/6). The industry has been trying to encourage the development of an in-state gas storage project for years. If ANGS builds its project, it will be the first for Arizona.

In its letter to FERC last month, ANGS noted that the site is situated on private land owned by El Paso — land which ANGS has an option to purchase — as well as Arizona State Trust land that it proposes to lease. The proposal would include the construction of some 350 acres of brine ponds, ANGS told FERC.

The company said the project is needed to support growing demand in Arizona and potentially California, particularly as more renewable power sources come online.

Recent requirements to increase the use of renewable power “will create a need for natural gas to balance the intermittent renewable inputs, creating greater volatility,” said Laura Luce, president of ANGS.

The open season extends through February 25. More information is available from Patrice Thurston at 203-557-1000, or at www.ngsenergy.com. — Stephanie Seay

Disclaimer: Reprinted with the Permission of Platt’s

29-Jan-10 8:00 AM

September 10, 2009 Wall Street Journal Article

Tom Ray — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:00:00 GMT

In a Cheap-Gas World, a Profit Patch

By ANN DAVIS

Rock-bottom natural-gas prices aren't getting everyone down in the energy patch. Some participants are riding the downturn all the way to the bank.

Commodity traders and utilities have been stashing cheap gas in underground storage caverns during the past year. They have been locking in sales of the gas for future delivery at much higher prices on the futures markets or keeping costs low... (continued)

Please click the link below to view the article.
http://webreprints.djreprints.com/2265961077981.html

15-Sep-09 10:00 AM

July 24, 2009 NGI Article

Tom Ray — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:00:00 GMT

NGI's Daily Gas Price Index

published : July 24, 2009

Tres Palacios Gets OK to Put Header System in Service

FERC Thursday approved a request of Tres Palacios Gas Storage LLC, a subsidiary of Westport, CT-based NGS Investments LP, to place its entire storage header system in Texas in service.

Steckman Ridge LP, a joint venture of Spectra Energy and New Jersey Resources, also received a green light to place three storage wells and three lateral lines in service in Bedford County, PA, where it is constructing a 12 Bcf gas storage facility to serve markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, the company said this week [CP08-15].

In its request, Tres Palacios said it was nearing completion of the construction of the segment of the header system between interconnections with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) and Tennessee Gas Pipeline (see Daily GPI, July 16 ). With the completion of this segment, Tres Palacios said the entire header system would be done [CP07-90].

The 41.72-mile, looped bidirectional header pipeline will be connected to a number of interstate and intrastate pipelines besides Transco and Tennessee, including Florida Gas Transmission, Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America, Kinder Morgan Tejas, Texas Eastern Transmission, Enterprise Texas, Houston Pipe Line and Enterprise Intrastate.

Tres Palacios said it had constructed and placed into service nine of the 12 interconnects and associated measurement facilities authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In late 2008 and early this year Tres Palacios received authorization to place into service storage caverns one and two, as well as its gas handling facility and previously constructed portions of the header pipeline system (see Daily GPI, Oct. 2, 2008 ). The storage facility in Matagorda County, TX, is using existing underground salt caverns on the Markham Dome.

A third cavern is targeted for service in 2010, according to Tres Palacios. The three-cavern facility has planned working gas storage capacity of 36.62 Bcf, and will have the ability to receive injections of up to 1 Bcf/d and handle withdrawals of up to 2.5 Bcf/d.

NGS is a relatively new private company managed by industry veterans with experience in gas storage development, including some former Sempra Energy gas storage officials who helped develop the Bluewater storage field in Michigan among other projects.

For more news about the natural gas industry as it happens, visit http://intelligencepress.com and sign up for a free trial.

©Copyright 2007 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.

27-Jul-09 4:00 PM

July 15, 2009: Arizona Gas Storage Project

Tom Ray — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT

NGS Energy confident about customer support for Arizona gas storage project

July 15, 2009 4:06 PM ET
By Susan Nelson

NGS Energy LP plans to file with FERC in the next two to three months for approval to build the first natural gas storage facility in Arizona. The salt-cavern storage facility would have connections with the interstate pipelines owned by Transwestern Pipeline Co. LLC and El Paso Natural Gas Co.

The storage site is located in the Picacho Basin, about 35 miles south of Phoenix. In May, NGS Energy announced that it had signed an agreement with El Paso Corp., giving it an exclusive due diligence period and right to purchase the gas storage facility, located in Pinal County, Ariz. NGS Energy President Laura Luce told SNL Energy that the company has definitive agreements with El Paso for the purchase of the storage facility.

El Paso, the parent company of El Paso Natural Gas, had recently considered developing the site for underground gas storage but then decided not to proceed. Despite El Paso's reservations, Luce said her company is optimistic about the project. "It's a go," she said. "There is an absolute need for storage in the state and there is customer support for it."

Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Kristin Mayes is very excited about the project and supportive of the enhanced reliability the project will bring to Arizona, Luce said. The company has received significant support from the state and customers, she said. The company is now in discussions with potential customers, but because of confidentiality agreements she would not name the interested parties.

Multifuels LP has proposed a salt-cavern gas storage project in the same area of Arizona, but "we're proceeding regardless" of Multifuels' plans, Luce said. Multifuels has been stymied by its plans to put the salt water removed from the underground formations in an underground aquifer. The company needed to get an exemption from the state's Environmental Quality Act, which does not allow brine to be injected into aquifers. But the company did not receive approval for the exemption from the Arizona Legislature during the past session.

For its project, NGS Energy plans to store the salt water removed from the caverns in above-ground evaporation ponds. Luce expects that certification from FERC and state agencies for the storage facility will come in a year and construction could begin in fall or winter 2010.

NGS Energy also owns the Tres Palacios gas storage facility in Texas, which began service in 2008. The company's Leaf River Energy Center in Mississippi is under construction, while construction on its Windy Hill gas storage project in Colorado will begin in 2010. Also, the company's Gulf Coast Connector project in Louisiana is under evaluation, Luce said.

Reprint courtesy of: www.snlenergy.com

15-Jul-09 9:00 AM

June 1, 2009 Leaf River Energy Center LLC Open Season

Tom Ray — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:00:00 GMT

PRESS RELEASE

Independent natural gas storage developer, NGS Energy, LP announced today that it will hold a binding Open Season for natural gas storage services to be provided by Leaf River Energy Center, a new salt cavern natural gas storage facility located in Smith County, Mississippi. The Open Season will commence June 1, 2009 and will end on June 16, 2009.

Leaf River commenced construction on the storage caverns in January, 2009. The storage facility will provide up to 32 Bcf of working gas capacity and will offer injection capability of up to 1 Bcf/d and withdrawal capability of up to 2.5 Bcf/d. Leaf River will have a 34 mile pipeline header system that will offer interconnects with Southern Natural Gas Company, Gulf South, Transco, Tennessee, Destin and KM Midcontinent Express pipelines.

NGS Energy is proud to announce that we have signed a Firm Storage Service Precedent Agreement with SOUTHERN COMPANIES SERVICES, INC, (as Agent for Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company, Mississippi Power Company and Southern Power Company) for a 15 year term for 3 Bcf in Phase I and 3 Bcf in Phase II at the Leaf River Energy Center.

“We are extremely proud to partner with Southern Companies Services, Inc, and feel that this partnership further validates the need for high deliverability, flexible, and economically priced storage in Mississippi”, said Laura Luce, President of Leaf River Energy Center.

NGS Energy Center has assembled a portfolio of highly flexible gas storage assets throughout North America and is currently engaged in various stages of development in Colorado, Louisiana and Arizona.

Parties interested in contracting for storage capacity or learning more about the Leaf River Energy Center are encouraged to contact Patrice Thurston at 203-557-1000 or pthurston@ngsenergy.com

1-Jun-09 8:00 AM

May 13, 2009 NGS Energy Signs Exclusivity Agreement, Considers Entrance into Arizona Natural Gas Storage Market

Tom Ray — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:00:00 GMT

NGS Energy Signs Exclusivity Agreement, Considers Entrance into Arizona Natural Gas Storage Market

NGS Energy LP and El Paso Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Acquisition and Understanding with regard to El Paso’s Pinal County, Arizona natural gas storage asset. Under the agreement, NGS Energy has an exclusive due diligence period and right to purchase all acreage, wells, geological and technical data and rights currently held by El Paso. The storage project is in the Picacho Basin and would include a 9 mile header system that could connect to Transwestern Pipeline, El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline, as well as numerous new and proposed gas fired plants.

“The growth in the Arizona market has not received the appropriate response from the natural gas storage industry” said NGS Energy President Laura Luce. “El Paso’s work drilling and coring multiple wells to test the viability of the geology and feasibility of the project are the first steps to sincerely address Arizona’s storage need.”

“The Picacho salt basin will be developed into a highly cyclable gas storage asset that could provide Arizona customers with the flexibility it currently needs and will need with continued growth” continued Luce.

NGS estimates the current acreage position could result in a 20 Bcf storage facility and will utilize above ground evaporation ponds. FERC filings will occur this summer with operations slated for Summer 2012.

“NGS’ background in developing storage assets will only further the speed with which the project can be brought to a market with an immediate need. NGS’ experience will ensure that the asset is developed by an experienced group in the swiftest timeframe.” commented Tom Price, Vice President El Paso.

Any interest or inquiries can be directed to NGS at 203-557-1000.

NGS Energy LP has assembled a portfolio of highly flexible gas storage assets throughout North America. Their newly operational Tres Palacios Gas Storage facility in Matagorda County, Texas just received FERC authorization to operate the entire facility including all interconnects. Other projects in various stages of development are located in Colorado and Louisiana.

El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient, and dependable manner. The company owns North America's largest interstate natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit www.elpaso.com.

13-May-09 2:00 PM

October 31, 2008 Leaf River Energy Center LLC Receives FERC’s Certificate of Necessity for Natural Gas Storage Facility

Mark McConnell — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Westport CT/ October 31, 2008 / Leaf River Energy Center LLC (Leaf River), a wholly owned subsidiary of Westport, CT based NGS Energy LP announced today the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity authorizing Leaf River to develop and operate a salt dome natural gas storage facility and the associated pipeline infrastructure.

Leaf River is expecting to file for Authorization to Commence Construction with the FERC next week and start building the facility immediately after that authorization is granted.

The storage facility will consist of caverns that will be created in two salt domes situated on over 400 acres in Smith and Jasper Counties, Mississippi and when completed, will provide up to 32 Bcf of working gas capacity. The 43 mile pipeline header system associated with the facility will stretch between Smith, Jasper and Clarke counties in Mississippi and interconnect with Southern Natural, Gulf South, Transco, Tennessee, Destin and the proposed Kinder Morgan Express Pipelines.

This highly deliverable and flexible storage facility will be able to inject up to 1 Bcf/d and withdraw up to 2.5 Bcf/d across the facility and is expected to be in service by the summer of 2010.

“We are very excited to receive this order and enter the next phase of development of this necessary and well positioned gas storage facility,” said Laura Luce, President of Leaf River Energy Center.

“The amount of interest and contracted capacity for this project has really demonstrated the market’s desire for a natural gas storage facility that can take or place gas in high volumes to multiple pipelines in an economical manner.

“Also, like our last project that was brought in operation on time and on budget, the Leaf River Energy Center will provide hundreds of construction jobs and high paying operating positions that will benefit the local area,” she continued.

Besides the multiple turn firm and interruptible storage services, Leaf River will provide park and loan and hourly balancing services and interruptible wheeling services at market based rates.

Parties interested in contracting for storage capacity or learning more about the Leaf River Energy Center are encouraged to contact Mark McConnell at 203-557-1000 or mmcconnell@ngsenergy.com.

3-Nov-08 7:00 AM

October 1, 2008 Tres Palacios Gas Storage Commences Service

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:00:00 GMT

October 1, 2008--Tres Palacios Gas Storage LLC (Tres Palacios), a wholly owned subsidiary of NGS Energy, L.P., is pleased to announce that on October 1^st, the gas storage facility has started commercial operation. The project is in operations exactly one year from receipt of the FERC authorization to commence construction and has been completed on budget.

The highly interconnected and flexible FERC regulated facility is located in Matagorda County, Texas and has started allowing anchor shippers to inject gas into its first cavern which has approximately 12 BCF of storage capacity. Two additional caverns will come on line in 2009/2010 and when all three caverns are placed into service, the facility will have the capacity of approximately 36 BCF and the capability to inject up to 1 BCF/d and withdrawal up to 2.5 BCF/d.

Customers are also able to start utilizing other services available in Tres Palacios’ FERC Tariff such as Firm and Interruptible Park and Loans, No Notice, Balancing and Wheeling services.

“The commencement of commercial operations is a milestone for any project”, said Laura Luce, President of Tres Palacios, “and a significant day for our customers, vendors, employees and owners. I appreciate the trust, teamwork, focus and dedication of our team to execute such a truly extraordinary job.”

Tres Palacios is interconnected with 10 interstate and intrastate pipelines, including: Florida Gas, Transco, Tennessee, NGPL, CTGS, HPL, TETCO, Enterprise Texas, Enterprise Texas Intrastate and Kinder Morgan Tejas.

Tres Palacios is a wholly owned subsidiary of NGS Energy which develops and operates gas storage facilities in the United States. Other storage facilities in various stages of development include projects in Mississippi, Louisiana and Colorado.

For more information about Tres Palacios or any of the other projects, contact NGS at (203) 557-1000. For inquiries about short term services on Tres Palacios such as Park and Loans, No Notice, Balancing and Wheeling services, contact Rob Davis at (203) 557-1010. For long term capacity inquiries at any NGS project, please contact Mark McConnell at (203) 557-1013.

1-Oct-08 2:00 PM

July 28, 2008 Tres Palacios Gas Storage Announces a Storage Capacity Open Season

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Westport CT/ July 28, 2008/ Tres Palacios Gas Storage LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Westport, CT based NGS Energy LP announced today that an open season for capacity will be held Monday, July 28 through Thursday, September 4, 2008.

1 BCF of Firm Storage Service (FSS) at the new high performance salt dome storage facility located in Matagorda County, Texas will be awarded to credit worthy bidders at or above the set minimum bidding requirements. The FSS is available to begin on April 1, 2009.

The facility will become operational next month being served by the first of three caverns and will be interconnected with 10 interstate and intrastate pipelines, including: Florida Gas, Transco (near Sta 30), Tennessee, NGPL, CTGS (Transco/Tennessee), HPL, TETCO, Enterprise Texas, Enterprise Texas Intrastate and Kinder Morgan Tejas.

Tres Palacios has been authorized to inject up to 1 BCF/d and withdrawal up to 2.5 BCF/d and when all three caverns are placed into service, will offer 36 BCF of working gas capacity to storage customers.

Any interested parties with questions concerning this open season or general inquiries regarding firm capacity commitments may contact Mark McConnell at (203) 557-1000 and may find the bidding form and additional information on the NGS Energy website: www.ngsenergycom.

28-Jul-08 6:00 PM

July 17, 2008 Tres Palacios Gas Storage Passes Critical Milestone in Project’s Development

Ashlee Fox — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Westport CT/ July 17, 2008/ Tres Palacios Gas Storage LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Westport, CT based NGS Energy LP announced today the successful completion of Mechanical Integrity Testing (MIT) on its first of three natural gas storage caverns in Matagorda County, Texas.

Facility construction has been underway since November 2007 when the Project received the necessary regulatory approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Mechanical Integrity Test is a critical milestone for the project and is the penultimate step prior to placing the cavern into operation. The final step, which the company will seek this week, requires the FERC Authorization to Place Facilities in Service. This final approval, expected by the end of July, will enable Tres Palacios to begin cavern dewatering immediately upon authorization and commence firm storage operations on September 1, 2008.

“We are thrilled by the MIT results and are very excited to be one step closer to commercial operations,” said Laura Luce, President of NGS and Tres Palacios, “The entire team has remained focused and diligent every step of the way with impeccable execution. We have built a world class, fully automated and flexible facility—the first of its kind—to provide much needed services to the Texas and U.S. natural gas market.”

Tres Palacios will be interconnected with 10 interstate and intrastate pipelines, including: Florida Gas, Transco (near Sta 30), Tennessee, NGPL, CTGS (Transco/Tennessee), HPL, TETCO, Enterprise Texas, Enterprise Texas Intrastate and Kinder Morgan Tejas. The Project has been authorized to inject up to 1 BCF/d and withdrawal up to 2.5 BCF/d and when all three caverns are placed into service will offer 36 BCF of working gas capacity to storage customers.

The company also plans to hold a binding open season for firm storage capacity remaining at the facility beginning on July 28^th. Details regarding the planned open season will be announced at a later time. Any interested parties with questions concerning this open season or general inquiries regarding firm capacity commitments may contact Mark McConnell at (203) 557-1000.

17-Jul-08 1:00 PM

April 29, 2008 Open Season to be Extended at Gulf Coast Connector

Ashlee Fox — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:00:00 GMT

WESTPORT, CT April 30, 2008-- Gulf Coast Connector LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NGS Energy LP announced today the extension of an ongoing open season for service offerings at the company’s proposed natural gas storage and transportation hub in northeastern Louisiana.

On March 20, 2008 the company announced the start of a non-binding open season for up to 16 Bcf of storage capacity as well as firm transportation and wheeling services independent of storage to last from March 27 to May 9, 2008. In order to explore strategic opportunities as determined by customer interest to date and give optimal consideration to project scope based on this interest, the open season has been extended until May 23, 2008 at 6pm EST.

The Company plans to construct approximately 40 miles of pipeline from the busy Perryville hub area to Delhi transporting up to 2.0 Bcf/d of natural gas sourced from key supply areas to highly valued downstream markets and will directly connect to up to thirteen bi-directional pipelines.

Gulf Coast Connector plans to file permit applications with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by this summer. The anticipated Phase in-service date is December 2009 for transportation and Summer 2011 for Phase I storage related services.

To download open season materials or for more information about Gulf Coast Connector, interested parties may consult the company’s website: www.ngsenergy.com or contact Mark McConnell (203) 557-1000.

29-Apr-08 3:00 PM

3/19/08 Open Season to Begin at Gulf Coast Connector

Ashlee Fox — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:00:00 GMT

WESTPORT, Conn., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Gulf Coast Connector LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NGS Energy LP announced today the start of an open season for service offerings at the company's proposed natural gas storage and transportation hub in northeastern Louisiana.

The company is soliciting non-binding proposals for up to 16 Bcf of storage capacity as well as firm transportation and wheeling services independent of storage. The open season will extend from March 27 to May 9, 2008 at 6pm EST.

The Project's pipeline will extend approximately 40 miles from the busy Perryville hub area to Delhi transporting up to 2.0 Bcf/d of natural gas sourced from key supply areas to highly valued downstream markets. Up to thirteen direct, bi-directional interconnections are planned with existing ANR, Columbia Gulf, MRT, Tennessee, Texas Eastern, Trunkline, Texas Gas, and SNG pipelines; Centerpoint's Carthage to Perryville and Gulf South's East Texas to Mississippi expansions; as well as the proposed Kinder Morgan Midcontinent Express, Boardwalk Gulf Crossing and the Spectra/CenterPoint Southeast Supply Header.

Gulf Coast Connector plans to file permit applications with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by this summer. The anticipated Phase in-service date is December 2009 for transportation and Summer 2011 for Phase I storage related services.

To download open season materials or for more information about Gulf Coast Connector, interested parties may consult the company's website www.ngsenergy.com or contact Laura Luce lluce@ngsenergy.com.

19-Mar-08 12:00 PM

1/24/08 Moody's Release on Tres Palacios Gas Storage

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:30:00 GMT

(The following statement was released by the ratings agency)

Jan 24 - Moody's Investors Service assigned a B1 corporate family rating (CFR) to Tres Palacios Gas Storage, LLC (TGPS) and B1 ratings to its proposed $100 million senior secured term loan, $285 million senior secured construction loan and $50 million senior secured revolving loan. The outlook is stable. The ratings are subject to a review of the final executed documents.

Pete Speer, Moody's Vice-President/Senior Analyst commented, "The B1 rating for Tres Palacios reflects the project's relatively advanced planning and significant proportion of fixed contracted costs, tempered by the inherent uncertainties of project execution and the potential for customer contract cancellations due to delays in achieving committed operational start dates."

With $107 million of first-in cash equity, $40 million projected cash flow and approximately $390 million of senior secured bank borrowings, TGPS will fund the conversion to natural gas storage of three existing salt dome caverns located in Matagorda County, Texas. The first cavern is expected to commence operations in July 2008, with the second cavern completed in April 2009 and the third finished in April 2010. The three caverns are expected to have 36.5 Bcf of working gas capacity and are FERC permitted. In addition to other factors, the ratings rely on the following items being completed as a condition to closing of the bank facilities: all interconnect agreements and 95% of right of way agreements completed; $30 million of funded contingent equity; and the finalization of a leasehold mortgage and lessor consents regarding the critical long-term lease agreement for the land and underground caverns.

The B1 CFR is supported by the extent of project design and engineering that has been completed, the proportion of the project's budgeted costs that are fixed, and the shorter time period to commencement of operations relative to other natural gas storage projects rated by Moody's. TGPS has also obtained fee-based contract commitments with predominantly investment grade customers and will have nine interconnections with interstate and intrastate pipelines providing access to its primary market in Texas and also to major demand centers in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Florida. Importantly, the project entails the conversion of existing salt dome caverns as opposed to the creation of new caverns, which reduces the timing and cost risks related to the creation of leaching plants, disposal wells and other facilities necessary to conduct leaching activities.

However, Moody's notes that the reduced timing and cost uncertainties gained from the conversion of existing caverns are partially offset by the substantial long-term lease obligation for the three caverns. Other storage projects have directly incurred the capital costs of land acquisition and cavern creation and funded them with bank borrowings, whereas TGPS has funded these costs through a lease obligation with the existing land and cavern owner. This lease obligation makes TGPS' capital structure and collateral package more complex than other natural gas storage projects rated by Moody's. The independent engineering report included observations regarding the size and proximity of the three caverns to one another and to other third party caverns in the Markham salt dome that result in higher base gas requirements and additional operational complexities for TGPS.

The stable outlook is based on the project materially achieving its timetable for commencing operations in the first cavern. Any significant delays in the start date for cavern one could result in customers deferring the start dates for their contracted services to the second quarter of 2009, which would meaningfully reduce the initial cash flows generated by that cavern and could result in a negative outlook. If the project experiences substantial delays in the project timing that result in customers exercising their cancellation rights and/or significant cost overruns, this could result in a negative outlook or ratings downgrade. A longer term risk to the rating is the potential for overbuilding of natural gas storage which could outpace future demand and result in lower rates and returns. (New York Ratings Team)

24-Jan-08 1:30 PM

1/3/08 NGS Energy Announces New Natural Gas Transportation and Storage Hub in Louisiana

Ashlee Fox — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:00:00 GMT

WESTPORT, Conn., Jan 3, 2008/ PRNewswire/--Independent Gas Storage developer, NGS Energy, announced today that it will develop a new major transportation and storage hub from Perryville to Delhi in Northeast Louisiana. This new hub – the Gulf Coast Connector – will be ideally situated to connect the prolific Barnett Shale gas play to higher valued markets and will provide greater reliability to both producers and consumers of gas throughout the region.

The project will have interconnections with up to 13 interstate and intrastate pipeline transmission systems including: ANR, Columbia Gulf, MRT, Tennessee, Texas Eastern, Texas Gas, Trunkline, Southern Natural, two new expansions: Centerpoint’s Carthage to Perryville and Gulf South’s East Texas to Mississippi Expansion, as well as three proposed pipelines: Kinder Morgan Midcontinent Express, Boardwalk Gulf Crossing and the Southeast Supply Header. By joining several new pipeline projects with existing infrastructure that serves nearly every major market east of the Rockies, Gulf Coast Connector will be one of the most liquid and dynamic hubs in North America.

Apart from other projects, Gulf Coast Connector will utilize salt storage caverns to provide a full menu of highly flexible storage and hub related services. Gulf Coast Connector will also offer firm transportation and wheeling services on the system independent of storage.

The project will file an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity with the FERC in early 2008, targeting a mid-2009 in-service date for firm transportation and early 2010 in-service date for firm storage.

A non-binding open season for capacity at Gulf Coast Connector will be held in February 2008. For additional project information or to inquire about the upcoming open season please contact Laura Luce (lluce@ngsenergy.com) or Ashlee Fox (ashlee@ngsenergy.com), (203) 557-4264.

Gulf Coast Connector is a wholly owned subsidiary of NGS Energy, the parent company of three gas storage facilities located in liquid and well connected US markets, including Tres Palacios Gas Storage, in Southeast Texas, Leaf River Energy Center, in Eastern Mississippi and Windy Hill Gas Storage, located in Northern Colorado.

3-Jan-08 3:00 PM

11/14/07 NGS Energy Acquires New Home Natural Gas Storage Project from Southern Natural Gas Company

Ashlee Fox — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:00:00 GMT

WESTPORT, Conn., Nov 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent natural gas storage developer, NGS Energy LP, the parent company of Leaf River Energy Center, LLC, announced today it will acquire the New Home Natural Gas Storage Project from Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG), a wholly owned subsidiary of El Paso Corporation, increasing NGS' access to the New Home dome for natural gas storage development.

The acquisition will advance NGS' opportunity for gas storage operations on the New Home dome and provide developmental efficiencies, enhanced risk management, and economies of scale.

As part of the sale of its New Home assets, SNG will also sign a firm storage commitment to store natural gas in the second of Leaf River's four underground salt caverns, beginning in 2010.

Leaf River Energy Center filed its certificate application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on October 11, 2007. In its filing, Leaf River requested authorization from the FERC to charge market- based rates and build a 43-mile, 24-inch pipeline header system. The bi- directional, looped header system will traverse Smith, Jasper, and Clarke Counties in Mississippi and have interconnections with the Kinder Morgan Midcontinent Express pipeline, Gulf South Southeast Expansion, Tennessee Gas Pipeline (Zone 1), Transcontinental Pipeline (Zone 4) and Destin (Shubuta), in addition to an interconnection with SNG.

Leaf River is currently holding a binding open season until Thursday, November 15 and is continuing discussions with prospective firm storage customers to confirm additional capacity commitments at the facility.

Pending receipt of necessary approvals, Leaf River expects to begin construction in mid-2008, targeting a July 1, 2009, in-service date.

More information about Leaf River can be found at the company's website: www.leafriverenergycenter.com, or by contacting Laura Luce (203) 454-4126.

16-Nov-07 8:00 AM

10/10/07- Leaf River Energy Center Files FERC Application

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:00:00 GMT

WESTPORT, Conn., Oct 10 / -- NGS Energy Fund, LP announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Leaf River Energy Center LLC, has filed its application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its natural gas salt storage facility located in Smith County, Mississippi.

The project is ideally located to act as a bridge between prolific new sources of supply being developed in the Barnett, Woodford and neighboring Shale plays and the higher valued Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast demand markets. Located on the New Home Salt Dome, well east of constraint points on the Gulf Coast interstate pipeline network, Leaf River will provide ample operational flexibility and reliability of supply to its customers with direct interconnections to both major expansion projects and existing long haul pipelines.

Leaf River will interconnect with Southern Natural Gas, Destin, Gulf South Southeast Expansion, Transco, Tennessee Gas Pipeline and the proposed Kinder Morgan Midcontinent Express pipeline along a 43 mile, dual 24’’ pipeline header system and is scheduled to be in operation with 8 Bcf of working gas capacity at market based rates as early as Summer 2009. Sequential cavern development will create an additional 24 Bcf of high deliverability working gas capacity by 2014, for a total of 32 Bcf.

A binding open season for available storage capacity at Leaf River will begin on Thursday, November 1st and end on Thursday, November 15th at 5pm EST. All interested parties should contact Laura Luce (lluce@ngsenergy.com) or Brad Oliver (bkoliver@ngsenergy.com) at 203-557-4264 and visit the company's website www.leafriverenergycenter.com to download appropriate materials.

NGS Energy Fund is an independent natural gas storage development company headquartered in Westport, Connecticut. In addition to Leaf River Energy Center, NGS is the parent company of Tres Palacios Gas Storage, the recently FERC permitted project located in Matagorda County, Texas and Windy Hill Gas Storage located in Morgan County Colorado.

10-Oct-07 5:00 PM

10/3/07 Sid Cecil Joins NGS Energy

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:00:00 GMT

WESTPORT, Oct 3/ NGS Energy is proud to announce that Sid Cecil has joined the company as Vice President of Engineering and Technology. Sid has thirty-three years of experience in hydraulic, process, and mechanical design, supervision and management of oil and gas production, processing, storage, and pipeline network systems. His project portfolio includes offshore and onshore installations for both domestic and international locations. His experience includes conceptual design, specialty studies, basic design, detailed design, equipment specifications, fabrication, equipment inspection, construction, commissioning, and startup.

In addition to his devoted detailed involvement and his commanding knowledge of NGS’ Windy Hill, Tres Palacios, and Leaf River gas storage projects, Sid brings direct experience with a number storage facilities in various capacities, including Pine Prairie Energy Center, Panther Gas Storage, Waha Gas Storage, Southern Pines Energy Center, Copiah Gas Storage, Egan Gas Storage, Katy Hub, Moss Bluff, Petal, Hattiesburg, Avoca Gas Storage and Lodi Gas Storage to name a few. His involvement with these projects has ranged from positions of engineering director, engineering manager to varied detail engineering roles such as early conceptual project development, basic and detail engineering, construction, to startup, and facility de-bottlenecking.

Specific to storage projects, Sid has provided a wide range of services including conceptual engineering, CAPEX and AFE developments, comprehensive efficiency & debottlenecking study evaluations, detail process design, power and hydraulic system modeling, comprehensive engineering, procurement, inspection and construction management services, facility expansions, field service trouble-shooting, and comprehensive permit application support services.

Sid Cecil will be based out of Houston, Texas where he will continue to lead the engineering and technological design for NGS.

3-Oct-07 8:00 AM