7 / 32
5
I N N O V AT I O N S • V O L . V I I , N O. 2 • 2 0 1 5
Northeast, the industry plans to expand existing
systems and build new systems to transport
natural gas produced in the Northeast to
consuming markets outside the region.
Flows on ANR Pipeline, Texas Eastern
Transmission, Transcontinental Pipeline,
Iroquois Gas Pipeline, Rockies Express Pipeline,
and Tennessee Gas Pipeline accounted for 60
percent of flows to the Northeast in 2013. Flows
on these pipelines in 2013 were between 21
percent and 84 percent below 2008 levels,
with the largest percentage decline occurring
on the Tennessee Gas Pipeline. As a result,
these pipeline companies have announced
plans to modify their systems to allow for bidirectional flow, adding the ability to
send natural gas out of the Northeast region. In 2014, the Tennessee Gas Pipeline
and the Texas Eastern Transmission began flowing gas both ways between states along the Northeast and Southeast region
borders. Even though the Northeast has seen increased natural gas production and new infrastructure, consumers in New
England continue to pay high natural gas prices during peak demand days because of pipeline constraints and lower supplies
from Eastern Canada and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.
MAKING NATURAL GAS EVEN SAFER
The domestic abundance of natural gas in the United States continues to offer tremendous
opportunities for the nation’s economy, environment and energy security. Local natural gas
utilities provide the critical final link between natural gas production, pipelines and people, and
we are constantly striving to enhance our operations to continue to deliver safe, reliable and
affordable energy to homes and businesses.
As part of this ongoing focus on safety, the American Gas Association and its members have
embarked on a groundbreaking voluntary effort to elevate the safety of natural gas delivery by
drawing on the combined expertise of natural gas utilities nationwide.
Launched in 2015, the AGA Peer Review Program is a national voluntary peer-to-peer safety and operational practices
review program that will allow natural gas utilities to observe their peers, share leading practices and identify opportunities
to better serve customers and communities. While other industries have implemented peer safety reviews, this is the first
national program of its kind for the U.S. natural gas utility sector.
Throughout 2015 and beyond, companies from the more than 200 local U.S. natural gas utilities that make up AGA’s
membership will volunteer to team up in peer groups of 3-4 companies to visit one another’s facilities and conduct detailed
reviews focusing on key aspects of pipeline and employee safety. These face-to-face discussions between experienced,
knowledgeable and dedicated natural gas utility professionals will help each company, and the industry as a whole,
strengthen its practices and processes and ultimately lead to an even safer natural gas industry.
Christina Sames
VP, OPERATIONS & ENGINEERING, AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION
Industry Commentary from Around the World
PAGE 14:
Read more on oil production from
the Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Source: U.S.Energy InformationAdministration estimates based onVentyx's data
Note: In this context, the Northeast includes the Northeast Census region as well as
Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia.