Pipeline companies, producers head to Washington

Kay Cashman

Alaska Sen. Frank Murkowski told PNA last week that he has invited the North Slope producers and pipeline companies to Washington, D.C., for an early February meeting about the proposed Alaska Highway gas pipeline from the North Slope to Canada and the Lower 48. Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles and representatives from the state House and Senate were also invited.

Among other things, Murkowski wants to determine who will build the gas pipeline — the three North Slope producers, BP, Phillips and ExxonMobil — or the nine major pipeline companies that are part of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System group. In Canada the pipeline companies are Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd., jointly owned by TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. and Westcoast Energy Inc.; and in the United States, they are subsidiaries of The Williams Companies, Duke Energy, Sempra Energy International, Enron, PG&E Corp. and El Paso Corp.

Murkowski also wants to know what role industry sees the state and federal government playing in the project, including what incentives are needed. The senator said he is in favor of federal incentives but needs to know exactly what is needed before the Senate takes action on an energy bill that includes pipeline incentives.

The meeting is tentatively set for Feb. 4 and 5. Murkowski said he already has confirmations from all three North Slope producers and most of the pipeline companies.