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Acid Gas
Gases that produce an acidic solution when dissolved in water. Examples of such compounds, often found in natural gas, are hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.
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Action Plan
A component of IRP, describing utility actions in the short-term (about two years) to meet the supply and demand objectives of the integrated resource plan.
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Allowed Rate of Return
The rate of return that a regulatory commission allows on a rate base in establishing just and reasonable rates for a utility. It is usually based on the composite cost of financing rate base from debt, preferred stock, and common equity.
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Alternate Fuel
Other fuels that can be substituted for the fuel in use. In the case of natural gas, the most common alternative fuels are distillate fuel oils, residual fuel oils, coal and wood.
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Alternate Fuel Capability
The ability to use an alternate fuel whether or not the facilities for such use have actually been installed.
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Associated Gas
Natural gas found in oil wells.
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Balancing
Making receipts and deliveries of gas into or withdrawals from a company equal. Balancing may be accomplished daily, monthly or seasonally, with penalties generally assessed for excessive imbalance.
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Base Gas
Gas required in a storage reservoir that is not withdrawn and is used to provide the pressure to cycle the normal working storage volume. Also called cushion gas.
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Baseload
As applied to gas, a given consumption of gas remaining fairly constant over a period of time, usually not temperature-sensitive.
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Bcf
Billion cubic feet.
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Blow Down
The process of reducing gas pressures by means of releasing such pressures to atmosphere.
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Bottom Gas
The quantity of gas that is not normally recovered from storage field operation. The same as BASE GAS, or CUSHION GAS.
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Btu
British thermal unit, a measure of the energy content of a fuel. The heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at a specified temperature and pressure. One Btu equals 252 calories, 778 foot-pounds, 1,055 joules or 0.293 watt hours. One cubic foot of natural gas contains about 1,027 Btu's.
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Burner Capacity
The maximum Btu per hour that can be released by a burner while burning with a stable flame and satisfactory combustion. Also called burner rating.
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Burner tip
A generic term referring to the ultimate point of consumption for natural gas. Also, an attachment for a burner head which forms a burner port modified for a specific application.
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Butane
One of the natural gas liquids and a component of liquefied natural gas. Stored and delivered in liquefied form, obtained by processing natural gas or from a process in petroleum refining. Contains approximately 3,260 Btu per cubic foot.
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Bypass
Situation in which a customer leaves its traditional provider to receive gas service from another. May involve the installation of pipeline to the new provider's facilities and/or reduction in contract amount for the existing service provider.
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Capacity
Maximum gas throughput a pipeline can deliver over a given period, generally stated MMcfIday.
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Capacity Release
A mechanism to establish a secondary market for firm transportation capacity. Each pipeline must offer capacity release through which holders of firm capacity can voluntarily resell all or part of their firm transportation capacity rights for a short or long period to any person who wants to obtain that capacity by contracting with the pipeline. Released capacity must be traded via electronic bulletin board, through a bidding process. Capacity released for a calendar month or less, or at maximum rate, does not have to be bid (all prearranged rate).
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Cathodic Protection
A technique to prevent the corrosion of a metal surface by making that surface the cathode of an electrochemical cell.
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City Gate
A point or measuring station at which a gas distribution company receives gas from a pipeline company or transmission system.
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Co-firing
Concurrent burning of gas and coal in a boiler whereby gas provides a fraction of the boiler's total heat inputs. Cofiring has been found to yield reductions in sulfur dioxide (S02) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, the precursors of acid rain.
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Cogeneration
The use of a single prime fuel source in a reciprocating engine or gas turbine to generate electrical and thermal energy in order to optimize the efficiency of the fuel used. The dominant demand for energy can be either electrical or thermal. Usually it is the latter with excess electrical energy, if any, being transmitted into the local power supply company's lines.
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Combination Utility
Utility which supplies more than one utility service, such as gas and electricity.
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Combined-Cycle Generation
System for the generation of electricity using a gas turbine or a heat recovery boiler and a steam turbine in tandem.
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Common Carrier
Transporter required by law to provide service to all legitimate comers. Oil pipelines are common carriers, while gas pipelines are contract carriers.
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Compressed Natural Gas
Highly compressed natural gas utilized by an operation not attached to a fixed pipeline, such as vehicles.
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Compressor Station
Locations along the interstate pipeline at which large (thousands of horsepower) natural gas-powered engines increase the pressure of the market natural gas stream flowing through the station by compression.
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Conservation Program
A utility-sponsored program that attempts to reduce a customer's energy consumption.
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Contract Carrier
Transporter, such as a gas pipeline, that provides its service on a contractual basis for other parties, as opposed to a common carrier.
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Contract Demand (CD)
Quantity of gas a pipeline and shipper agree to on a daily, monthly or yearly basis as specified in a transportation contract. The buyer need not take this maximum quantity on any given day but must pay the full reservation charges.
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Contract Storage
Storage facilities, or a portion of storage facilities, which are leased to others for the purposes of storing gas. The portion of storage facilities which has been made available to others may not be used by the pipeline for system supply.
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Convergence
Describes the innovative combination of gas and electric services usually through a merger or acquisition between gas and electric companies. Also used to describe increasing dependence upon natural gas for electrical generation.
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Core Customers
Residential/small commercial customers who rely on traditional distributor bundled service of sales and transport.
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Cost of Service
Ratemaking based upon the actual cost of providing a service rather than customers' willingness to pay. Included are amounts to cover supplier costs, operation and maintenance expenses, taxes, depreciation, and a fair return on invested capital.
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Cross Subsidization
Practice of charging one class of customer rates higher than actual cost of service in order to charge other class lower rates. Also, using resources from one subsidiary to benefit another.
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Cubic Foot
The most common unit of measurement of gas volume. It is the amount of gas required to fill a volume of one cubic foot under stated conditions of temperature, pressure, and water vapor. One cubic foot contains about 1,027 Btu.
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Curtailment
A method to balance natural gas requirements with available supply. Usually there is a hierarchy of customers for the curtailment plan. A customer may be required to partially cut back or totally eliminate his take of gas depending on the severity of the shortfall between gas supply and demand and the customer's position in the hierarchy.
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Cushion Gas
Gas in storage reservoir that is used to maintain operating pressure. This gas is not withdrawn from the reservoir during a normal injection and withdrawal cycle.
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Deep Gas
Gas found at depths greater than the average for a particular area; for FERC purposes, it is gas found at depths of more than 15,000 feet.
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Degree Day
An index indicating the difference between 65 degrees Fahrenheit and the average temperature for a day.
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Dekatherm (Dth)
A unit of heating value equal to ten therms or one million Btu's.
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Deliverability
Maximum rate at which natural gas can be extracted from a supply well. Deliverability also may refer to the amount of gas that can be transported through a pipeline or withdrawn from a storage well over a given period of time.
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Delivery Point
Point where gas is transferred from pipeline to shipper.
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Demand
The rate at which gas is delivered to or by a system, part of a system, or a piece of equipment, expressed in cubic feet or therms or multiples thereof, for a designated period of time called the demand interval.
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Demand Side Management (DSM)
Utility activities designed to influence the amount and timing of customer demand, producing changes to the overall demand.
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Design Capacity
Engineering calculation of capacity modeled to build a pipeline, adjusted for added compression and pipe.
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Design Day
A 24-hour period of demand which is used as a basis for planning gas capacity requirements.
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Dig-in
When buried gas facilities are damaged by excavation.
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Displacement
Method by which one company trades a like amount of gas to another, even though the gas itself does not move.
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Distributed Power
Any small-scale power generation technology that provides electric power at a site closer to customers than central station generation. A distributed power unit can be connected directly to the consumer or to a utility's transmission or distribution system.
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Dual-Fuel Capacity
Ability of an energy-burning facility to alternately utilize more than one kind of fuel, usually gas and oil.
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End User
Ultimate consumer of gas. An end-user purchases the gas for consumption but not for resale purposes.
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Exchange Gas
Gas received from (or delivered to) another party in exchange for gas delivered to (or received from) the other party, often in a displacement arrangement.
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Exploratory Well
A well drilled in search of a previously undiscovered accumulation of oil or gas, or in an attempt to significantly extend the limits of a known reservoir.
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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Federal agency, under the Department of Energy, with jurisdiction over interstate natural gas transportation and sale for resale rates, wholesale electric rates, hydroelectric licensing, oil pipeline rates, and gas pipeline certification. Established in 1977 as successor to the Federal Power Commission.
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Firm Service
Service offered to customers under schedules or contracts which anticipate no interruptions. The period of service may be for only a specified part of the year as in Off-Peak Service. Certain firm service contracts may contain clauses which permit unexpected interruption in case the supply to residential customers is threatened during an emergency.
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Firm Transportation Service
Transportation services for which facilities have been designed, installed, and dedicated to a certified quantity. Firm transportation service takes priority over interruptible service.
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Fixed Costs
Costs which relate entirely or predominantly to the capital outlay necessary to provide the system capacity plus operating expenses which do not vary materially with the quantity of gas transported through the pipeline system.
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Force Majeure
A superior force, "act of God" or unexpected and disruptive event, which may serve to relieve a party from a contract or obligation.
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Forward or Futures Contract
Contract for future delivery at a price determined in advance.
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Fuel Switching
Act of an end-user with dual-fuel capability switching fuel types if one type of fuel becomes more economical or reliable than the other.
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Gas Bubble
Wide-scale excess of gas deliverability over market demand.
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Gas Industry Standards Board (GISB)
An organization established to develop and promote standards for the natural gas industry to simplify and expand electronic communications, and to simplify and streamline business practices. Membership in GISB includes all segments of the natural gas industry.
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Gas Research Institute
An organization sponsored by a number of U.S. gas companies to investigate new sources of supply and new uses (applications) for natural gas.
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Gasification
The process during which liquefied natural gas (LNG) is returned to its vapor or gaseous state through an increase in temperature and a decrease in pressure.
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Gate Station
Generally a location at which gas changes ownership, from one party to another, neither of which is the ultimate consumer. It should be noted that the gas may change from one system to another at this point without changing ownership. Also referred to as city gate station, town border station, or delivery point.
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Gathering Systems
Pipelines, generally small diameter and low pressure, which transport gas from one or more production facilities or wellheads to a gas processing plant, transmission or distribution line.
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Headstation
A point at which gas enters the pipeline's main transmission line, either at the interconnection of the gathering system or of a third party transporter.
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Heating Value
Amount of heat produced by the complete combustion of a unit quantity of fuel.
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Hedging
Any method of minimizing the risk of price change. Since the movement of cash prices is usually in the same direction and about in the same degree as the movement of the present prices of futures contracts, any loss (or gain) resulting from carrying the actual merchandise is approximately offset by a corresponding gain (or loss) when the contract is liquidated.
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Henry Hub
A pipeline interchange, located in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, which serves as the delivery point of natural gas futures contracts.
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Hydrostatic Test
A strength test of equipment (pipe) in which the item is filled with liquid, subjected to suitable pressure, and then shut in, and the pressure monitored.
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Incentive Regulation
An alternative to cost-of-service regulation that places limitations on price rather than profit, with the expectation that utilities will aggressively cut costs in order to maximize their return. Incentive regulation allows utilities to retain permanently a portion of cost savings as an inducement for further cost reductions.
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Incremental Rates
Rate treatment that requires marginal or new customers to pay the full cost of additional facilities.
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Independent Power Producer (IPP)
Wholesale electricity producer unaffiliated with the franchised utility in the area in which the IPP is selling power.
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Industrial Fuel Switching
Switching from natural gas to alternate fuels such as residual or clarified oil by large industrial customers, primarily motivated by the relative fuel prices.
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Integrated Gas Company
Company that obtains a significant portion of its gas operating revenues from the operations of both a retail gas distribution system and a gas transmission system.
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Integrated Resource Planning
A utility planning method whereby alternative resource mixes, including demand-side and supply-side options, are evaluated in order to determine which resource plan minimizes the overall cost of service, subject to reliability and various other constraints.
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Interruptible Service
A transportation service similar to firm service in operation, but a lower priority for scheduling, subject to interruption if capacity is required for firm service.
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Interstate Pipeline
A pipeline company that is engaged in the transportation or sale for resale of natural gas across State boundaries, and is subject FERC jurisdiction under the NGA.
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Intrastate Pipeline
A pipeline company that is engaged in the transportation or sale for resale of natural gas that does not cross State boundaries, and is not subject to FERC jurisdiction under the NGA, but is subject to state regulation.
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Just and Reasonable Rates (J & R)
Requirement of Section 4 of the NGA that rates be set at the lowest reasonable level that recovers a pipeline's costs associated with plant and equipment used and useful in providing service. The rates must not be unduly discriminatory, preferential or otherwise unlawful.
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Kilowatt
A unit of electrical work equivalent to 1,000 watts, 0.9478 Btu/sec, or 1.3414 horsepower.
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Line Pack
Natural gas occupying all pressurized sections of the pipeline network. Introduction of new gas at a receipt point "packs" or adds pressure to the line. Removal of gas at a delivery point lowers the pressure (unpacks the line).
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Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Natural gas which has been liquefied by reducing its temperature to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit at atmospheric pressure. In volume, it occupies 1/600 of that of the vapor at standard conditions.
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Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
A gas containing certain specific hydrocarbons which are gaseous under normal atmospheric conditions but can be liquefied under moderate pressure at normal temperatures. Propane and butane are the principal examples.
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Load
The amount of gas delivered or required at any specified point or points on a system; load originates primarily at the gas consuming equipment of the customers.
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Load Balancing
Process by which a pipeline uses line pack and storage capabilities to equalize system gas pressures.
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Load Factor
A ratio of average pipeline throughput to the contracted volume for a specific period of time.
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Load Management
Utility operating techniques to minimize peaking, or capacity, costs associated with the seasonal variations in customer demand.
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Local Distribution Company (LDC)
Company engaged primarily in the purchase of natural gas for resale and distribution to end-users.
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Looping
Increasing the capacity of a transmission system by installing an additional pipeline beside the original.
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Main
A distribution line that serves as a common source of supply for more than one service line.
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Market Hub
Point of interconnection between two or more pipelines, gas processors or storage facilities where the transfer of gas and related service takes place, coordinated by the operator of the hub.
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Marketer
Entity that links customers and gas companies by providing services such as accounting, supply aggregation and sales, and arranging for transportation.
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Markup
The average cost paid by a pipeline company customer to move a unit of gas.
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Maximum Daily Quantity (MDQ)
The daily allotment of capacity a customer has reserved by contract with a pipeline company.
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Mcf
Thousand cubic feet.
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Methane
Primary component of natural gas (CH4).
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Mileage-Based Rates
Rates designed to reflect the difference in pipeline costs based on the distance between supply sources and delivery points.
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MMBtu
Million British thermal units.
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MMcf
Million cubic feet.
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Modified Fixed Variable (MFV)
Rate design where fixed costs associated with the pipeline's return on equity and associated income taxes are included in its volumetric charge, while all other fixed costs are recovered in the demand charge. Variation of straight fixed variable rate design.
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Monopsony
Market condition in which a large number of sellers have only one buyer, as opposed to monopoly, where there is only one seller.
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National Energy Policy Act of 1992
A multifaceted energy statute intended to reduce U.S. dependence on oil imports. Among other provisions, the act exempts multi-state ownership of wholesale electric power facilities from federal securities regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. The Act also gives FERC authority to order access to the electric transmission grid.
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Native Gas
The total volume of gas indigenous to a storage reservoir.
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Natural Gas
Naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases found in porous geologic formations. The primary component is methane.
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Natural Gas Liquids
Hydrocarbon components of wet gas. Natural gasoline and liquefied petroleum gases fall in this category.
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Netback Price
Wellhead price determined by subtracting transmission and distribution costs from the market price.
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Nomination
Formal notification to a pipeline from a shipper indicating the amount of gas to be received delivered or stored by the pipelines.
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)
FERC document describing proposed rules and soliciting comments by affected parties.
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Odorant
Any material added to natural or LP gas in small concentrations to impart a distinctive odor. Odorants in common use include various mercaptans, organic sulfides, and blends of these.
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Off-Peak
Period of low energy demand, such as the summer months for gas, and the winter months for electricity.
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Open-Access
Non-discriminatory access to interstate pipeline transportation services.
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Operational Balancing Agreement
Agreement between two interconnecting pipelines or plant operators to resolve day to day variations in gas flow that result from operational factors.
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Operational Flow Order (OFO)
An order issued by a pipeline prescribing specific actions to be taken by shippers to alleviate conditions that threaten or could threaten safe operations or pipeline integrity.
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Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
Seabed lying more than three miles offshore, under federal jurisdiction.
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Over-pressuring
Technique of increasing the maximum pressure in a natural gas storage reservoir above the discovery pressure.
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Paper Hearing
Process whereby FERC, in an effort to expedite proceedings, decides issues on the basis of a written record.
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Parking
Temporarily storing a shipper's excess gas so that shipper doesn't have to sell it at depressed prices.
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Peak Day
The one day (24 hours) of maximum system deliveries of gas during a year. Peak day data is used to, among other things; determine the allocation of certain costs between classes of service. The Commission sometimes required allocation based on an average of three continuous days of maximum deliveries (i.e., three day peak). See also DESIGN DAY.
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Peak-Shaving
Form of load management where supplemental supplies, such as LNG or storage gas, are used to accommodate seasonal periods of peak customer demand.
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Pig
A device used to clean and/or inspect the internal surface of a pipeline. They are inserted into the pipeline by means of a device called a pig-trap and pushed through the line by pressure of the flowing fluid, usually gas.
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Pilot
A small flame which is utilized to ignite the gas at the main burner(s).
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Pooling Points
Mainline receipt points where pipeline-quality natural gas is introduced into a high-pressure transmission mainline, generally located at interconnections with upstream pipelines, tailgate receipt points, and points where gathering systems interconnect with the mainline. Also referred to as headstations.
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Postage-Stamp Rate
Flat rates charged for natural gas transportation service without regard to distance.
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Potential
A measure of the capacity of a well to produce oil or gas. When a well is completed, its productive capacity is determined by an official test. The capacity as shown by this test is known as the well's potential. The allowable rate of production assigned to the well is based in whole or in part on its potential.
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Price-Elasticity of Demand
Measure of the sensitivity of demand to changes in price.
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Producer
Any party owning, controlling, managing, or leasing any gas well and/or party who produces in any manner natural gas by taking it from the earth or waters.
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Propane (C3H8)
A gas, the molecule of which is composed of three carbon and eight hydrogen atoms. Propane is present in most natural gas and is the first product refined from crude petroleum. It has many industrial uses and may be used for heating and lighting. Contains approximately 2,500 Btu per cubic foot.
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Proved Reserves
An estimated quantity of natural gas which analysis of geologic and engineering data demonstrates with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in the future from known oil and gas reservoirs under anticipated economic and current operating conditions. Reservoirs that have demonstrated the ability to produce by either actual production or conclusive formation test are considered proved.
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Purchased Gas Adjustment
A provision approved by the regulatory agency allowing a company to make filings to change its rates, without the usual suspension period, for the purpose of recovering currently the changes in its cost of purchased gas. Pipelines with such tariff provisions are permitted to charge all purchased gas costs, net of storage injections and withdrawals, to a deferred expense account. As gas is sold, the deferred account is credited by an amount equal to the volume of gas sold multiplied by the base average cost and Btu content of gas used in the last rate filing. The difference between the charges and credits to this account is accumulated with interest and billed out to customers over the next annual period as a purchased gas surcharge (positive or negative) adjustment.
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Quad
Quadrillion Btu
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Rate Base
Net value of a utility's investment in plant an equipment
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Rate Regulation
Regulation of transmission and distribution utilities to ensure rates are "just and reasonable." Usually based on cost-of-service principles.
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Rate Zone
Specified area where all customers pay the same price for the same level of service.
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Receipt Point
Point where gas enters the pipeline for delivery to customers.
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Reservation Charge
Fee assessed based on the amount of capacity reserved on a daily basis. It is typically a monthly fee that does not vary by throughput.
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Reserves
Proportion of the energy (natural gas, for example) resource commercially recoverable under current economic conditions with current technology. Reserves are those resources believed to be recoverable with the highest degree of confidence.
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Reserves-to-Production or R/P Ratio
Ratio of remaining recoverable reserves to the current rate of production.
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Reservoir
Geological formation holding an accumulation of oil and/or natural gas.
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Resource Base
Amount of natural gas that is yet to be recovered.
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Revenue Requirement
Level of revenue a regulated company is allowed to collect through rates to cover operating costs and to provide an opportunity to earn a fair rate of return on rate base.
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Rolled-in-Pricing
Rate treatment whereby a utility charges its customers the weighted average cost of all existing and new facilities.
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Seasonal Rates
Rates designed to reflect the difference in cost and value of service between peak and off-peak periods, as opposed to levelized rate paid over the calendar year.
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Scrubber
Piece of equipment through which combustion gases are passed in order to remove contaminants, mostly sulfur oxides. This is done by mixing the gases with suitable agents that absorb or react with the undesired elements.
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Service Agreement
An agreement between a pipeline company and customer specifying the service to be rendered, maximum obligation to deliver, delivery points, delivery pressure, applicable rate schedules by reference to the tariff, effective date and term, and identification of any prior agreements being superseded.
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Shipper
Any pipeline customer who holds a contract with the pipeline for transportation service.
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Shut-in-Gas
Situation in which production is restrained or cut off either by order of a state conservation authority (prorating) or because the producer is unable to find a buyer at an acceptable price.
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Sour Gas
Gas found in its natural state containing enough sulfur to make it impractical to use without purifying.
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Spot Market
A market characterized by short-term, interruptible (or best efforts) contracts for specified volumes of gas. Participants may be any of the elements of the gas industry - producer, transporter, distributor, or end user. Brokers may also be utilized.
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Spot Price
Current one-time purchase price.
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Storage Facility
A subsurface geologic formation suitable for and used to store natural gas that has been transferred from its original location for the purpose of fuller utilization of pipeline facilities and effective market delivery or load management.
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Stress Crack
Internal or external crack in a material caused by tensile or shear stresses less than that normally required for mechanical failure in air. The development of such cracks is frequently related to and accelerated by the environment to which the material is exposed. More often than not, the environment does not visibly attach, soften, or dissolve the surface. The stresses may be internal, external, or a combination of both.
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Sweet Gas
Gas found in its natural state that can be used without purifying.
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System Storage
Storage facilities, or portion of storage facilities, which is used by the pipeline to store gas for its own use, to meet the peak day requirements of its sales customers and to provide flexibility on its system.
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Take-or-Pay
The clause in a gas supply contract which provides for a specific period a specific minimum quantity of gas must be paid for whether or not delivery is accepted by the purchaser. Some contracts contain a time period in which the buyer may take later delivery of the gas without penalty.
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Tar Sands
Hydrocarbon bearing deposits distinguished from more conventional oil and gas reservoirs by the high viscosity of the hydrocarbon which is not recoverable in its natural state through a well by ordinary oil production methods.
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Tariff
Schedule describing the different terms, conditions and rates for different gas services offered by a gas company.
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Tcf
Trillion cubic feet.
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Therm
Unit of heat equal to 100,000 Btus.
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Throughput
Volume of natural gas that may be carried on a pipeline over a period of time. All gas volumes delivered.
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Tight Sands
Gas-bearing geologic strata that holds gas too tightly for conventional extraction processes to bring it to the surface at economic rates without special stimulation.
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Transportation
The act of moving gas from a designated receipt point to a designated delivery point pursuant to the terms of a contract between the transporter and the shipper. Generally it is the shipper's own gas which is being moved.
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Unbundling
The separation of the various components of gas sales, storage, transmission, delivery and etc. into an ala carte menu of services from which a customer may choose only those desired.
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Unconventional Gas
Natural gas that can not be economically produced using current technology.
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Variable Costs
Operating costs which, in the aggregate, vary either directly or indirectly in relation to any change in the volume of gas sold and/or transported; i.e., compressor station fuel and expenses.
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Wellhead
Point at which gas flows from the ground.
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Wellhead Price
Price of gas flowing from the wellhead, exclusive of gathering, treating, or transportation charges.
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Wet gas
Unprocessed or partially processed natural gas, produced from strata containing condensable hydrocarbons and water.
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Working Gas
Gas in storage which is available for withdrawal during a normal injection and withdrawal cycle.
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