Southern Natural Gas may need 6 months for Ivan repairs

Houston (Platts)--11Oct2004

El Paso's Southern Natural Gas unit warned Monday it may need as long as six
months to return part of its system to service following continued assessment
of damage from Hurricane Ivan, a Category Four storm that savaged the Gulf of
Mexico nearly a month ago. In a bulletin Monday to customers, the company said
its system suffered "extensive damage" in natural gas facilities upstream of
the Toca Compressor Station. Since Ivan's passage, Southern Natural has
verified the integrity for 43 of the 70 receipt points on the system. It has
been unable to complete a damage assessment for all lines east of Main Pass
298 but called it "extensive" and noted the storm destroyed its Main Pass 293
pipeline junction platform. 

Southern Natural cited Feb 1 as the earliest date for a "realistic
possibility" in a best case scenario for resuming service to all lines east of
Main Pass 298. In addition, the company said it may need two months to resume
operations for its South Pass 60 line. Definitive dates will depend on many
factors, including availability of marine contractors.

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