LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today lifted the "SoCalGas Advisory"
asking all customers to reduce their natural gas use. The advisory
was called on Monday at 7 a.m. in
response to increased demand for natural gas resulting from cold
weather. The system-wide curtailment watch for noncore customers
(large commercial and industrial customers, including electric
generation plants) has also been lifted. Both the SoCalGas Advisory
and Curtailment Watch ended today at 1
p.m.
On Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 cold weather conditions led to hourly
customer demand on SoCalGas' system that significantly exceeded gas
supplies being delivered through interstate pipelines and the
company's other storage facilities. Natural gas withdrawals from
Aliso Canyon played a critical role in helping SoCalGas meet those
peak hourly demands and avoid service interruption to large
customers, including electric generators, refineries, and other
critical service providers such as hospitals, airports and
manufacturers.
Withdrawals from Aliso Canyon were made in accordance with the
Aliso Canyon Winter Withdrawal Protocol established by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
Withdrawal Event Summary
Rapid changes in customer demand over the last two days are
examples of the sudden peaks SoCalGas regularly experiences with
changes in the weather. The company coordinates with the California
Independent System Operator and customers to manage these hourly
changes in demand to help prevent service interruptions.
Temperature lows in most parts of the region on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25
were in the 30s at night. On Monday and Tuesday, SoCalGas delivered
almost 4.1 billion cubic feet of gas, the highest demand so far
this winter, according to company data.
Natural gas travels slowly through pipelines. It takes 3-4 hours
for gas traveling from the California border (where it enters the
SoCalGas system) to customers in the LA Basin. In the morning hours
on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 hourly customer demand on SoCalGas'
system significantly exceeded gas supplies being delivered through
interstate pipelines and from our other storage facilities.
In an effort to meet the peak hourly demand, SoCalGas placed all
other storage fields on maximum withdrawal. Even at maximum
withdrawal, that was not sufficient to meet the peak hourly
customer demand.
To help maintain the reliability of natural gas and electricity
service across the region, SoCalGas withdrew natural gas from Aliso
Canyon. The withdrawal was consistent with the Aliso Canyon Winter
Withdrawal Protocol established by the CPUC.
Without withdrawals from Aliso Canyon, the demand on the system
over the last two days could have resulted in curtailments to
non-core customers, including power plants, refineries, and
hospitals.
Measurements of Gas Withdrawn from Aliso Canyon
- On Jan. 24 approximately .03
billion cubic feet of natural gas was withdrawn from Aliso Canyon
over a two-and-a-half-hour period between
7:25 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. The peak flow rate during this
period was about .013 billion cubic feet (13 million cubic feet)
per hour.
- On Jan. 25 approximately .02
billion cubic feet of natural gas was withdrawn from Aliso Canyon
over a two-hour period between 7 a.m. and 9
a.m.
- Approximately 14.8 billion cubic feet of working gas inventory
remained in the field after the withdrawal.
Additional Monitoring During Withdrawals
Verified readings from SoCalGas' network of eight pairs of
fence-line monitors and other detection systems show normal
background levels over the withdrawal periods. Furthermore,
additional methane detection patrols showed no increased levels of
methane at wells or equipment being used for withdrawal.
Data collected by a community air monitor shows background
levels of methane were at their lowest levels yesterday during the
time that Aliso Canyon was withdrawing gas to meet increased
customer demand. All of the levels detected by the methane
monitor were within normal background ranges.
Additional data collected by The South Coast Air Quality
Management District is consistent with readings from SoCalGas and
community monitors and is available here:
http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/compliance/aliso-canyon-update/air-sampling/air-montoring-activities/continuous-methane-monitoring-data.
About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California
Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable
natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the
nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing
service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million
meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service
territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout
central and Southern California,
from Visalia to the Mexican
border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:
SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in
San Diego.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company