NEW YORK, Feb 27 - Williams Cos Inc unit Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corp said Friday it would limit excess storage withdrawals and not allow any imbalances on its natural gas pipeline system due to cold weather expected to hit the U.S. Northeast on Sunday.
"Transco anticipates significant market load in conjunction with below normal temperatures forecast for much of its market area beginning Sunday," a website posting said.
While the system restrictions were voluntary, the company said absent cooperation in maintaining system balance it could take further action with little advance notice.
Alerts on gas pipeline systems help protect the integrity of pipelines by requiring shippers to take action to balance their daily supply with their customers' usage, typically within a specified tolerance band.
The 10,500-mile (17,000-km) Transco gas pipeline transports about 8.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas from supply areas in the Gulf Coast to markets throughout the southeastern and northeastern United States, including major metropolitan areas in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Traders blamed the pipeline restrictions for part of a near $2 per mmBtu rise in gas prices in Transco's New York City market area Friday NG-NYCZ6, lifting regional prices off Thursday's more than 28-month low average.
A cold front was expected to move across Northeastern states starting Friday. While warmer weather in the 50s and 60s degrees Fahrenheit was expected ahead of the front, on Sunday a wintry mix of rain and snow and colder weather was seen spilling into Mid-Atlantic and New England states, according to The Weather Channel's weather.com.
Highs were seen in the 20s and 30s F across much of the region by Sunday, the forecaster said.
"Transco anticipates significant market load in conjunction with below normal temperatures forecast for much of its market area beginning Sunday," a website posting said.
While the system restrictions were voluntary, the company said absent cooperation in maintaining system balance it could take further action with little advance notice.
Alerts on gas pipeline systems help protect the integrity of pipelines by requiring shippers to take action to balance their daily supply with their customers' usage, typically within a specified tolerance band.
The 10,500-mile (17,000-km) Transco gas pipeline transports about 8.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas from supply areas in the Gulf Coast to markets throughout the southeastern and northeastern United States, including major metropolitan areas in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Traders blamed the pipeline restrictions for part of a near $2 per mmBtu rise in gas prices in Transco's New York City market area Friday NG-NYCZ6, lifting regional prices off Thursday's more than 28-month low average.
A cold front was expected to move across Northeastern states starting Friday. While warmer weather in the 50s and 60s degrees Fahrenheit was expected ahead of the front, on Sunday a wintry mix of rain and snow and colder weather was seen spilling into Mid-Atlantic and New England states, according to The Weather Channel's weather.com.
Highs were seen in the 20s and 30s F across much of the region by Sunday, the forecaster said.
