Northern Gas Pipelines, (Alaska Gas Pipeline, Denali - The Alaska Gas Pipeline, Mackenzie Valley Gas Pipeline, Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline, Northern Route Gas Pipeline, Arctic Gas, LNG, GTL) is your public service, objective, unbiased 1-stop-shop for Arctic gas pipeline projects and people, informal and rich with new information, updated 30 times weekly and best Northern Oil & Gas Industry Links on the Internet.  Find AAGPC, AAGSC, ANGTL, ANNGTC,  ANGDA, ANS, APG, APWG, ANGTA, ANGTS, AGPPT, ANWR, ARC, CARC, CAGPL, CAGSL, FPC, FERC, GTL, IAEE, LNG, NEB, NPA, TAGS, TAPS, NARUC, IOGCC, CONSUMER ENERGY ALLIANCE, AOGA,AOGCC, RCA and more...

2009 LINKS: FERC Reports to Congress, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7....; USGS Arctic Gas Estimates; MMS hearings: RDC, Our NGP, AJOC, DH, ADN, KTUU; Enstar Bullet Line: Map and News Links; ANGDA; Alaska Energy Forum; Prosperity Alaska

2008 LINKS: Shell Alaska OCS Study; Mackenzie Gas Project EIS; Join the Alaska Gas Pipeline Blog Discussion; Governor Sarah Palin's AGIA Links; 2007 ACES tax bill links; Department of Revenue 2007 ACES tax documents;  2007 ACES tax Presentations; 2007 ACES tax news; Alaska Gas Pipeline Training and Jobs; Gas Pipeline and Economic Development; Andrew Halcro; Bjørn Lomborg; FERC's Natural Gas Website Links

WASHINGTON: Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act; History of H.R. 4; DOE Energy Bill Position, 6-02; Daschle-Bingaman Energy Bill (Alaska, Sec. 1236 & tax credit, Sec. 2503 & H.R. 4 Conferees), Tax Credit; See amendments, "Energy Policy Act of 2002";  "Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2001 (Draft)" & Background Paper, 8-9-01;Alaska Legislature Joint Committee position; Governor's position; Governor's 10-Point Plan; Anadarko Analysis; U.S. Senate Energy Committee Testimony, 10-2-01 - text version;  U.S. Senate Energy Committee Testimony, 9-14-00; Report on the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1971, prepared by staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 1-18-01

ALASKA: 1-23-03, Governor Frank Murkowski's State of the State Speech; 2002 DRAFT Recommendations to 2003 Legislature; '02 Alaska Legislation; Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Policy Council; Joint Legislative Gas Pipeline Committee; 9-01 Alaska Models: Canadian Routes, LNG, GTL; HR 4 Story; Cook Inlet Supply-Demand Report: AEDC; Commonwealth North Investigation & Our Article; Report: Backbone; Legislature Contacts; State Gas Pipeline Financing Study; 5-02 Alaska Producer Update; Kenai: "Oil & Gas Industry Issues and Activities Report, 11-02"; Alaska Oil & Gas Tax Structure; 2-27-02 Royalty Sale Background; Alaska Gas Pipeline Office opens, 7-01, and closes, 5-02; Betty Galbraith's 1997-1998 Chronology.  Our copy.

CANADA: 1-10-03, "Arctic Gas Pipeline Construction Impacts On Northern Transp."-Transport Canada-PROLOG Canada Inc.-The Van Horne Institute;Hill Times Reports, 8-30-02; 9-30-02, Cons. Info. Requirements; CBC Archives, Berger Commission; GNWT Economic Impact Study, 5-13-02; GNWT-Purvin & Gertz Study, 5-8-02; Alberta-Alaska MOU 6-02; Draft Pan- Northern Protocol for Oil and Gas Development; Yukon Government Economic Effects: 4-02 & PPT; Gas Pipeline Cooperation Plan Draft & Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board;  Mackenzie Valley Pipeline MOU Draft, 6-01; FirstEnergy Analysis: 10-19-01; Integrated Delta Studies; National Post on Mackenzie Pipeline, 1-02;Northern Pipeline Act;  Haida Nation v. British Columbia; Indian Claims Commission; Skeena Cellulose decision -- aboriginal consultations required, 12-02; Misc. Pipeline Studies '02

COMPANIES: Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team Newsletter, 7-27-01; APG Newsletter: 5-02, 7-02 & 9-02; ArctiGas NEB PIP Filing Background; NRGPC Newsletter: Fall-02;  4-02 ArctiGas Reduces Field Work; BP's Natural Gas Page; Enbridge Perspective; Foothills Perspective; Williams Perspective; YPC Perspective, 7-02

 MEDIA REFERENCE: Alaska Journal of Commerce; Alaska Inc. Magazine; Anchorage Daily News; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; Fairbanks Daily News Miner, Juneau Empire; Northern News Services; Oil & Gas Reporter; Petroleum News Alaska; Whitehorse Star, etc.

EXTENDED CONFERENCE NEWS: Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce,  Canadian Institute, Insight Information, Inuvik Petroleum Shows, International Association of Energy Economists, Resource Development Council for Alaska, Ziff Energy Group

LEST WE FORGET!

Northern Gas Pipelines: Relevant Canadian Institute & American Conference Institute Proceedings: 2002

2002 Activity (2001 Conference Report Here)

2nd Annual Arctic Gas Symposium-Houston, Report Below.  Over 50 Conference Photos Here

11-02 Arctic Gas Symposium, Houston.  Following is our report.  Accuracy is our goal; accordingly all participants and readers are invited to send additions/corrections.  The agenda is below.

Introduced by Symposium coordinator, Elaine Blake (NGP Photo), your author (Photo) was honored to Chair and moderate this conference and opened with a PowerPoint presentation outlining history of Arctic gas projects, and their current status.

Alaska state Senator John Torgerson-l and Roger T. Allen-r (NGP Photos), Northwest Territories Minister of Justice, provided the opening keynote presentations.  This was Torgerson's last official presentation before retiring from office at year-end.  His primary focus in 2001-02 has been  chairmanship of the Joint Natural Gas Pipelines Committee.  Torgerson admitted that Alaska has "a regressive tax system", suggesting the state would modify the system to, "take less when prices are low and more when prices are high."  He said, "We will likely eliminate or diminish property taxes during pipeline construction."  Addressing the state's strong support for the Alaska Highway Pipeline Project, he said, "Being as selfish as we are, we want all the construction, all the jobs, all the infrastructure possible to be inside Alaska."  (NGP has requested Torgerson's presentation for our readers.)  Allen said the Northwest Territories (NWT) is, "on the brink of witnessing one of the largest development projects in Canadian history," speaking of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline project.  While the NWT is ready to take the next step to develop gas resources, he said, "...we cannot achieve success by ourselves."  He then urged a partnership role by the federal government.  "We need clear and decisive leadership from the Government of Canada to help us move ahead with this project," he said.  (Please download the presentation here.)

Larry Houle (NGP Photo), General Manager of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance and Roger Soucy (NGP Photo), President & CEO, Petroleum Services Association of Canada conducted a panel addressing "Investment Climate Challenges in Alaska and Canada."  After briefing conferees on Alaska's economic base, he said, "the narrowness of the state's tax base is a result of the state's reliance on oil and gas to supply almost all of the state income since the beginning of Prudhoe Bay production in 1977."  He described the state's fiscal crisis and also named Alaska's permitting regime as needing improvement for the investment climate to change.  Soucy carefully described current health of the Canadian oil and gas industry.  He described status of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline and emphasized the importance in such large projects of "managing expectations", of various constituencies: producers, local Aboriginal communities and businesses, service suppliers and government. He said that industry leaders have learned the value of "going slowly and taking the time to do it right", respecting lifestyles, providing local jobs and training programs.  As NGP has in these pages, he identified the Kyoto protocol as having major effects on the Canadian oil and gas industry and economy.  (Please download the presentations here.)

University of Houston Professor Ronald Oligney (NGP Photo), provided an information-rich review of Arctic gas projects and economic implications of governmental decisions.  In one of his most revealing analyses, Oligney correlated periods of greatest U.S. job losses to periods of energy supply disruption, including: the 1974 Arab Oil Embargo, the 1980 Iran-Iraq war, etc.  He was critical of Alaska political pressures to affect industry's choice of gas pipeline routings.  He said the Alaska debate centered on such issues as North Slope natural gas supply for Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska construction jobs and environmental issues.  "It's emotional and people vote for these issues," he said.  "Alaskan politicians take action.  They don't have a gas pipeline, but they take action."  (Please download the presentation here.)

Michel Scott, VP Frontiers, Devon Canada Corporation (NGP Photo).  Agreeing with earlier speakers concerned about government interference with projects, Scott said, "In Alaska we have lost momentum in large part due to political difficulty.  The Mackenzie Delta project," he said, "is one the market wants now."  Scott said that Mackenzie Delta exploration is supported by strong demand for the gas, a long-term need for frontier gas supplies and the Canadian Cooperation Plan which could expedite approval processes.  (Please download the presentation here.)

"We see the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline going first with an Alaska gas project following," said John Carruthers, Program Manager for Alaska-Canada Gas Pipeline Projects, BP Alaska – Canada Gas (NGP Photo).  He supported gas demand projections of other speakers: "Arctic gas is needed as traditional supply cannot keep pace with demand."  Speaking to a 'hybred proposal' for making the Alaska project more economically feasible, Carruthers said, "With the fiscal terms in place, at this time we're not prepared to invest in Alaska gas."  He said current risks outweigh rewards, more engineering work isn't now justified and, "future activity must match progress with governments and commercial viability."  Giving participants a blueprint for success, he said, "...a 4-legged Stool is needed...: 1.  US Federal regulatory enabling legislation, 2.  NEB/First Nations regulatory process clarity, 3.  Alaska Fiscal certainty, and 4. Technology-led cost reductions."  Carruthers told conferees that, "It wouldn't be practical to build two pipelines at the same time.  We do see the Mackenzie project moving ahead and coming on stream sometime around 2008.  The experience gained on that project will be very helpful to an Alaska gas pipeline."  (Please download the presentation here.)

Matt Janisch, Managing Director, BMO Nesbitt Burns (NGP Photo-left) and Roland George, Principal, Purvin & Gertz, Inc. (NGP Photo), offered thorough analyses on 'Supply and Demand Pricing for Arctic Gas'.  As prices firm, Janisch said that, "gas supplies and drilling are declining in the U.S. and Canada."  He attributed the phenomenon to a number of factors including: energy company mergers and conflicts with budget schedules, and fewer 'drill ready' projects.  He said the huge amount of drilling seen recently in Canada and the U.S. barely produced supply equaling production.  "If we go back to a 30 year average temperature (i.e. lower winter temperatures)," he said, "it will have a huge impact."  He said a condition of mature oil and gas provinces was resulting in higher well decline rates and lower well productivity.  Roland George joined other experts in suggesting the Mackenzie Project could be completed in the 2008 timeframe with Alaska gas production following in about 2012.  He said that if not for political controversy the schedule could have been accelerated.  "The budget risks to a project," he said, " are market prices and project costs."  Other risk factors include the cost of debt, the debt equity ratio and political uncertainty.  With LNG imports ready to satisfy demand, George cautioned Alaska that it should, "...have a realistic view of rents desired in a way that doesn't discourage producer investments."   (Please download the presentations here.)

James R. Harrington, Chief Executive Officer, Houston Energy Group, discussed "Building Financial and Industrial Support for the Arctic Mega Project".  Harrington provided a number of creative perspectives, including one which Alaska should consider as it implements the passed Ballot Proposition #3, establishing a government controlled gas pipeline/LNG project.  He said, "We see LNG prices continuing to come down over time.  Columbia and Venezuela are closer to the U.S. gas grid than Alaska is."  Rich with analyses and calculations, Harrington's presentation contrasted the importance of delivering Arctic gas supplies rather than importing off-shore LNG.  Benefits would include reduction of dependence on imports, security of domestic supplies and reduction of price volatility.   (Please download the presentation here.)

Forrest Hoglund, Chairman of Arctic Resources Company spoke in support of his company's promotion of a northern route (i.e. 'over the top') for Alaska gas.  He said, "Arctic gas is a national treasure."  He said it should flow in one line instead of two and should carry all the frontier gas and pass through all the important sedimentary basins.  "Everyone--including the Alaskans--would benefit from this project," he said.  "If this is North America's most important project, shouldn't government leaders meet and determine the most environmentally, economically feasible project?"  (Please download the presentation here.)

Shirley Neff (NGP Photo), Chief Economist for the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, reviewed the state of Congressional actions toward facilitating development of Arctic gas in the 2002 Congress. The Congress is adjourning this year without having passed an energy bill so the effort will have to begin again in the next Congress.  As tribute the importance of Alaska natural gas policy issues, Neff said her office "...has had as many visits on gas pipelines as any office on the Hill, from proponents, states, producers, Canadian provinces and territories."

"Neff said future Congressional action on the energy bill in general and gas pipeline expediting and incentive legislation in particular was impossible to predict. She believes many stakeholders, from the Alaska delegation to industrial gas users, will consider action on Arctic energy a critical energy and economic priority. She outlined a range of options the Congress could pursue next year, including authorizing a streamlined certificate and permitting procedure on the budget reconciliation bill and including necessary changes to the fiscal terms on an early tax bill.

Neff acknowledged the concerns about interfering with the market, and confirmed that the "price floor" mechanism at AECO was no longer under discussion. She described that provision as a placeholder in a long multi-phased process ("...even though it was opposed by some producers in Canada and the Lower 48").** She reminded everyone that, unlike Canada, the US does not have a Parliamentary system. The House and Senate each pass their own versions of legislation then meet in a conference committee to work out details, only then does the Administration become engaged.

Possible tax measures under discussion include an improved depreciation schedule, an enhanced oil recovery credit for a gas treatment plant and a federal tax credit of up to 50 cents per MMBtu available only when netback prices on the North Slope fall to a very low level. This would not be a price floor, but rather, parallels a similar proposal for marginal oil and gas wells.  She said a loan guarantee to hold down capital costs was also under consideration.

Neff responded to criticisms of Congress for mandating a specific route and offering fiscal incentives. She noted the route mandate was only included in the Senate legislation after the producer group had completed its analysis of the various routes and concluded that there was not much cost difference between the routes.  She compared permitting a route through the Beaufort Sea, given certain opposition from the State of Alaska under the Coastal Zone Management Act, to Chevron's years of, ultimately unsuccessful, efforts to develop the Destin Dome field off the Florida panhandle.  She said that during the process, "One of the producers said it would not consider the northern route.  At that point, we caved in and didn't oppose efforts to prohibit the northern route."

She also spoke to the broader public policy interest in ensuring long-term gas supplies. She cited the "market" insistence on lower risk and quicker payback as an impediment to investment in the pipeline facilities necessary to bring the gas from Alaska, at least, to market. Given the gas available on the North Slope of Alaska is almost exclusively produced from State lands, she thought other members of Congress would support the Alaska delegation and the people of Alaska in their desires to use that gas to develop and diversify the state's economy.  She concluded by noting that financing for any pipeline project would require long-term contractual  commitments worth close to $20 billion. She said the analysis and debates could continue indefinitely but, in the end, no project will go forward unless and until the producers with the gas supplies decide a certain project makes sense for them to make the financial commitment.

Doug Anguish asked if Foothills could build a project under existing permits.  Referring to the ANGTA regime, Neff said, "Yes, there is a treaty but there would have to be an updated environmental review."

Francis Saville (NGP Photo) asked if a return to high gas prices again would affect government attempting to mandate a gas pipeline route.  Neff responded that, "the 24-hour news cycle sometimes drives rash judgment on issues like this."

In a question period, Fernando Blackgoat (NGP Photo-l) asked about the effect of a gas reserves tax the Alaska legislature had recently considered (Note: obviously a disincentive for future investment  -dh).  Neff said that since the issue concerns gas on Alaska land, Alaska's legislature would deal with it.  Participant Robert Marshall (NGP Photo) asked if the fiscal terms included in the energy bill would have been sufficient to 'jumpstart' a pipeline project.  Neff said it would be helpful if the state of Alaska were to match Congressional incentives. 

**Northern Natural Gas has obtained this informal outline of the incentive package last being discussed before H.R. 4 failed with adjournment of the lame duck session of Congress:

Wayne Sartore, VP Northern Pipeline Development, Enbridge Inc. discussed, "Overcoming Technical Challenges of Operating and Maintaining an Arctic Gas Pipeline: Case Study of an Existing Arctic Pipeline."  Sartore briefed participants on Enbridge's significant experience in operating and managing assets that move 10Bcfd, and constructing and operating an oil pipeline and small diameter gas pipeline and distribution system in permafrost areas.  Enbridge encourages all potential Arctic projects but adds its concern to that expressed by other Symposium speakers.  Sartore said, "regarding Alaska gas, there are 'southern route', 'northern route' and 'no route' options.  The issue we need to be aware of is the prospect of investment being deflected elsewhere."  He counseled the audience that, "The first pipeline is never the last one.  Multiple projects occur because the first project occurred.  Thus, an Arctic gas pipeline project is a 100-year decision," he said.   (Please download the presentation here.)   (Note: NGP readers are welcome to request new Arctic gas pipeline CDs, courtesy of Enbridge.  "Northern Pipeline Story" gives background on pipeline projects, technology, construction, opportunities for jobs and small businesses, required community and aboriginal support and future economic benefits.  "Northern Advantage", from Enbridge's 'route neutral' perspective, analyzes the three principal northern gas pipeline routes: Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, Northern Route and Southern Route.  "We are confident that any of the pipelines currently being proposed can be successfully built and operated," the Enbridge presentation observes.  A third of this educational CD triumvirate is, "Economics of Development".  (Contact is Kim Osborne: 780-420-8571)

Doug Anguish, Project Manager, Northern Pipelines Project (NGP Photo), addressed, "Logistics and Construction: Marshalling and Mobilizing Resources to Build An Arctic Pipeline Mega Project".  A former Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan, member of the Legislative Assembly and Minister of Energy and Mines, Anguish fit comfortably into his role of providing information about pipeline construction and facilitating the decision process affecting how workers are hired.  Anguish's organization is supported by a large number of trade organizations throughout Canada including Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada (represented at this meeting by president Kevin Waschuk, NGP Photo-r).  (We shall provide a link to Anguish's complete presentation when it arrives.)

Jack Eidson, Manager of Special Projects for Business Development and Commercialization for Lockheed Martin Technical Services  addressed "Northwest Arctic Logistical Concerns for Gas Pipeline Planners".  Eidson' s many decades of Alaska experience with large projects, including the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), were reflected in a wide array of practical suggestions for modern-day pipeline planners.  He recalled for the audience that when TAPS was constructed, workers had no cell phones.  Laptop computers hadn't been developed.  He said that in today's world, "Logistics is the single greatest risk to the financing and quality of a project."  He counseled that, "Anything that's brought in will have to be made a part of an exit strategy for moving it out."  (Please download the presentation here.)

Following Eidson's presentation and a lunch break, your author invited Seminar participants wishing to further discuss Alaska's Proposition #3, Kyoto and other issues to remain.  About a dozen continued meeting informally, a good time was had by all and all the world's problems were solved.  -dh  (Note: See other conference photos here.)

-end-

Tuesday, November 19.

9:00 a.m.   -            Opening Remarks from the Chair

Dave Harbour, President, The Harbour Company

9:15 a.m.   -            Congressional Gas Pipeline Legislation: 2002 Background and 2003 Outlook

Shirley Neff, Chief Economist, U.S. Senate Energy and

Natural Resources Committee

10:15 a.m. -            Networking Coffee Break

10:30 a.m. -            Overcoming Technical Challenges of Operating and Maintaining an Arctic Gas Pipeline: Case Study of an Existing Arctic Pipeline

Wayne Sartore, VP Northern Pipeline Development, Enbridge Inc.

11:30 a.m. -            Logistics and Construction: Marshalling and Mobilizing Resources to Build An Arctic Pipeline Mega Project

Doug Anguish, Project Manager, Northern Pipelines Project

     Northwest Arctic Logistical Concerns for Gas Pipeline Planners
        Jack Eidson, Manager of Special Projects for Business Development and
        Commercialization for Lockheed Martin Technical Services

12:30 p.m.            -            Chair’s Closing Remarks and Conference Concludes
Networking Luncheon

3-7/8: "Second Annual Calgary Arctic Gas Symposium", with this year's theme: "Tapping Secure Supply for Growing Markets".  Download complete, final agenda here; below is the report:

Conference Photos Here

Local Calgary Readers and Attendees Meet Northern Gas Pipelines Publisher, 3-8-02

Arctic Gas Symposium, Calgary: quotes from gas pipeline players in this one significant meeting illustrate the breadth and depth of issues*

• "From Vision to Reality: Tapping into the Arctic's Abundant Supply"

  Randy Ottenbreit (NGP Photo), Manager, Mackenzie Delta Opportunity, Imperial Oil Resources.   “Widespread community consultation is ahead of us as opposed to behind us.  …  We are looking at filing an application on the earliest possible date, early next year if possible.”

   

  • John Carruthers (NGP Photo), Program Manager, Alaska Gas Producer’s Pipeline Team, Calgary.  “Alaska Fiscal Certainty is needed (because the) potential for fiscal change creates risk that jeopardizes long payout projects.”   

   

• "The Impact of Arctic Gas on the North American Supply/Demand and Infrastructure Equation" - James Harrington (NGP Photo-with Co-Chair Rosemary Boulton), President, Houston Energy Group and conference co-chairman.  Harrington reported on his recently completed study for INGAA and said, "“North America needs new supply sources (and) Arctic gas is the earliest, new domestic supply.” 

• "Aboriginal Perspectives on Arctic Gas: Creating Sustainable Opportunities"

  •  Michael Nadli (NGP Photo), Grand Chief, Deh Cho First Nations, Fort Simpson explained that,  “Underlying the Deh Cho Process is the fact that huge deposits (estimated at upwards of $40 billion) of oil and gas lie beneath our lands. While we have not made a decision on the pipeline, we are not against development and are prepared to roll out the red carpet.”

  • Dennie Lennie (NGP Photo), Chairman, Inuvialuit Development Corporation.  Lennie said Aboriginal people expect northern pipeline projects to include: “high environmental standards and input, economic and business opportunity, partnerships and equitable business participation.”

  •  Richard Glenn (NGP Photo-right), Vice President, Lands, North Slope Regional Corporation.  Glenn said ASRC’s vision includes: realizing the goals of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; realizing stable, long-term income from the land; and, achieving balanced development without compromising subsistence values.

  • Ed Schultz (NGP Photo), Grand Chief, Council of Yukon First Nations.  “We are seeking a partnership relationship, not an assimilation relationship, based on mutual respect and the understanding that local people should have a say on what goes on in their own back yards.”

• "Forming Mutually Beneficial Aboriginal Partnerships at ATCO Frontec" - Michael Shaw (NGP Photo), President, ATCO Frontec; Lillian Brewster (NGP Photo), Director, Northern and Aboriginal Relations, ATCO Frontec said the company’s 1,500 employees, “From Alaska to Greenland, Inuvik to Bosnia…provide logistics, facilities & systems management and technical services…” while creating partnerships with Aboriginal groups to develop mutually beneficial businesses."

• "Drilling North of 60: A Test Case" - Adrienne Jones (NGP Photo), Geologist, C.S. Lord Northern Geoscience Centre, Government of the Northwest Territories.  “A recent study by Reinson and Drummond revealed striking geological similarities between the long-producing Louisiana Gulf Coast, a basin that yields about 5.3 Tcf of natural gas per year, and the Mackenzie Delta….  One could expect similar or greater production levels from the onshore Delta.”

• Peter Haverson, Drilling Manager, Petro-Canada.  Bill Roeske (NGP Photo), Petro-Canada’s Lead Drilling Superintendent spoke for the company, highlighting the theme, “safety, health and respect for the environment.”

• "An Overview of the Jurisdictional Regulatory Environments in Alaska and the Territories" - Richard A. Neufeld (NGP Photo), Partner, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Calgary.  “The Draft Cooperation Plan between northern Canadian agencies has laudable objectives, and clearly there has been progress….  What remains …are initiatives that would truly integrate the three federal environmental assessment regimes….”

3-8 Agenda: Rosemary Boulton, Co-Chair's Opening Remarks

• Yukon Premier Pat Duncan (NGP Photo).  “Our regulatory house is in order.  I can tell you the Yukon is in this game and we intend to play.”

• "Transporting Gas to the Lower 48: A Pipelines Update", moderated by Dave Harbour (NGP Photo by Peter Jalkotzy), Publisher, Northern Gas Pipelines. 

  • Wayne Sartore (NGP Photo), Vice President, Northern Pipeline Development, Enbridge Inc.  “Build multiple smaller lines ‘consecutively’ in the same right-of-way: The ‘Measured Approach’.

   

  • John Ellwood (NGP Photo), Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Foothills Pipe Lines Limited, said,  “Foothills and its shareholders have invested time, money and considerable effort to keep the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System in an advanced state of readiness.  Two separate pipelines will be built from the Alaska North Slope and the Mackenzie Delta."

   

  • Robert Sluder, Vice President, Operations, Williams Gas Pipeline - West.  Peter Cook (NGP Photo), Manager, Arctic Gas Project, replaced Sluder and said,  “…gas demand in North America will reach 30 TCF by 2011.  Gas prices will…support an Arctic project.”

   

  •  Jeff Rush (NGP Photo), Vice President, Business Development, TransCanada PipeLines Limited. 

   

  • Dr. Harvie Andre (NGP Photo), Chairman of Arctigas Resources: “Common sense dictates that the shortest route is usually the cheapest route and that having one pipeline that connects two different producing areas to market is usually more economical than each producing area having a separate pipeline.”

   

• "Where Should Arctic NGLs Be Processed?"

  •  W. Norval Horner (NGP Photo), Vice President, Supply, Aux Sable Liquid Products LP.  Horner said most Alaska gas would probably go to Chicago and the, “economics of a high pressure large diameter bullet line are hard to beat.  There is a high cost to depressurize volumes for natural gas liquid recovery in the middle of the line.”

  • Mike Hantzsch (NGP Photo), Vice President, Business Development, Williams Energy Canada Inc. said creating a petrochemical industry in Alaska produce margins that are positive but slim and that Alberta/Alaska locations and transportation methods are still being studied.

   

   

• "What are the LNG and GTL Options?  Are They Still Workable?"

  • - Roger Marks (NGP Photo), Economist, Department of Revenue, State of Alaska, discussed options for transporting Alaska gas to market.  He observed that transportation consumes much of the gas value, that geography works to Alaska’s disadvantage resulting in the requirement for large-scale projects that, in turn, produce big risks.

  •  

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  • Richard Peterson (NGP Photo), President, ANGTL Company, said that monetizing Arctic gas using GTL technology could benefit Alaska and the U.S. and that it could incorporate proven technology and be economic were certain tax benefits applied to Alaska GTL.

  •  

   

• "What's Next: The Future of Exploration in the Arctic"

  • Benoit Beauchamp (NGP Photo), Ph.D., Research Scientist, Geological Survey of Canada; “More than half of Canada’s North is underlain by sedimentary basins that are still of very low exploration maturity."

•  

•  

  • Ken Bird (NGP Photo), Project Leader, Alaska Petroleum Studies Project, U.S.G.S. said that in addition to known Alaska reserves exceeding 35 TCF, 64 TCF are hypothesized to occur on the North Slope (on- and off-shore) with as much as 92 TCF in Alaska offshore areas. 

• "Environmental Challenges to Frontier Gas Exploration, Production and Transportation: What to Expect". 

  • Michael Muller (NGP Photo), Northern Manger, Inuvialuit Environmental & Geotechnical Inc., described key Arctic environmental challenges and proven solutions.

   

• "Constructing the Arctic Mega-Project: Meeting the Challenges of Mobilizing the Workforce and Suppliers"

  

  • Warren Christian (NGP Photo), President and General Manager, Houston Contracting Company

   

   

  • Joel Thompson (NGP Photo), Vice President, Merit Contractor Association.  “Pipelining requires many skills and you’re not just looking for bodies.  It is dangerous to take for granted that the labor force will be there when it is needed.”

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