Power utility mulls hotline washing of high-tension wires across Nashik
The Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) has decided to conduct ‘hotline washing’ of high tension lines to avoid long power outages acoross the district. For this purpose, it may need to procure additional instruments. The procedure requires a truck-mounted instrument that allows one to spray de-mineralised water below the insulators made of china-clay to remove dust. Since this exercise is carried out without shutting down the power supply, it’s called ‘hotline washing’. The June 20 debacle that left the entire district in darkness for over 14 hours has pushed the state power utility to take concrete steps towards rectifying the problem and ensuring that Nashik does not have to face power outages of such large proportions in future. The issue of pre-monsoon maintenance of high power transmission lines has come under the scanner especially after the June 20-incident of power failure in district that resulted in three talukas and industrial area going without power besides tripping of two power generation sets in Eklahara colony. The Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) has therefore decided to conduct live washing of the high tension lines for which it may require to purchase instruments. “Once acquired, it will be the first-of-its-kind kit with the MSETCL in the state, which is used mostly to clean insulators more than 100ft above where fine dust accumulates and creates a path for water, leading to power failures. Since the pre-monsoon maintenance is a major issue, the company is contemplating buying the truck-mounted instrument for cleaning purpose,” a senior officer from MSETCL said. “The MSETCL currently has units to conduct hotline washing of the system where maintenance is carried out without shutting down the line – while 1,32,000 to 2,22,000 volt of energy passes through the wires. It is a specialist job. It is more difficult to clean the system with water. Around two years ago, the company cleaned the system using the cold water washing process. the drawback of this process is the limited amount of time available to complete the process, as the power supply has to be restored soon,” the officer added. Abroad, maintenance of the system is carried out through specially designed choppers. For cold washing the system, power outage for longer durations is needed, which is not feasible, especially during summers. “We cannot closing lines for too long, which leaves no scope for cleaning the system,” the officer said. Discussing the hotline washing method, he said that since there were no experts available to carry out the job, MSETCL was planning on readying a team that would specialise in carrying out the work. “The teams will be trained, developed and retained for the job,” he added. There is, however, another side to the issue. “The MSETCL officials may find it feasible to buy the equipment for hotline washing but a major concern remains about how often the kit would be brought to use. In such a scenario, it is best to outsource the work so that the utility can focus on other issues at hand instead for worrying up training and retaining teams for the job. Why should the company invest in a machine that will require huge funds? Let the job be outsourced, which is limited to a particular time of the year,” a union leader of the employees of the company said. Water should be de-mineralised 100% by the agency hired for the job and any shortcomings should be punished severely, he added. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Authentic Jersey
Cairn India, Vedanta merger sealed with revised terms
For each equity share a minority investor holds in Cairn India, he’ll get one equity share and four redeemable pref shares in Vedanta. The Boards of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India announced approval of the revised and final terms for the merger. “The Boards of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India have approved revised and final terms for the Transaction, taking into account prevailing market conditions and having regard to underlying commercial factors,” a company release stated. Pursuant to the revised and final terms, each Cairn India minority shareholder will receive for each equity share held, one equity share in Vedanta and four redeemable preference shares with a face value of Rs. 10 in Vedanta. This translates to implied premium of 20 percent to one month volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of Cairn India share price. The merger plans were stalled after the income-tax department froze Cairn Energy’s 9.5 percent stake in Cairn India. In 2011, Cairn Energy sold 58.5 percent of Cairn India to Vedanta, for USD 8.67 billion. However, Vedanta holds 59.88 percent in Cairn India and LIC owns 9.06 percent in Cairn India with 3.9 percent stake in Vedanta. Wade Baldwin Authentic Jersey
RIL, BP spend Rs 45 billion to maintain gas output at KG-D6
Reliance Industries and its partner BP of UK have invested over Rs 45 billion in the flagging eastern offshore KG-D6 block to maintain gas output at current level despite the steep natural decline that has set in the seven-year old fields. RIL-BP are currently producing from Dhirubhai-1 and 3 gas field and MA oil and gas field, three of the over one-and-half dozen discoveries made in the Bay of Bengal Block KG-DWN-98/3 or KG-D6. The fields, which began gas production in April 2009, hit a peak output of 69.43 million standard cubic meters per day in March 2010 before water and sand ingress shut down well after well. The fields are on steep natural decline and RIL-BP have spent over Rs 45 billion arrest the decline and continue to increase the ultimate recovery of gas, sources said. The block is currently producing 8.7 mmscmd. Currently, RIL-BP are in the process of sidetracking (drilling) two of their existing wells and drilling away from the water to increase recovery of gas. Side-track campaign has also been initiated in MA field. Sources said the existing and enhanced production from these fields only get the price as per the formula that was approved in November 2014. Price according to this formula currently is $3.06 per million British thermal unit and is expected to be revised lower in October 2016. At these prices, leave alone new investment, even the base business will struggle to yield any profits, they said. Sources said RIL-BP have started working developing R- Series and satellite discoveries. A field development plan (FDP) approved in 2013 envisages $3.18 billion investment in R-Series or D-34 gas field to produce 13-15 mmscmd of gas for 13 years. RIL-BP recently submitted FDP for two other discoveries D-29 and 30, which formed part of R-Culster. Besides, another FDP of $1.529 billion for four satellite gas discoveries – D-2, 6, 19 and 22, was approved in 2012. The four fields can produce 10.36 mmscmd. The two partners are also working on a FDP of MJ find. Sources said it will take 36-42 months to build and install new facilities on these fields and to drill new wells and hook them up. Mike Palmateer Jersey
Centre sticks to GAIL pipeline plan
Dashing the hopes of some 2,430 farmers in the western belt of Tamil Nadu, the Union government has categorically ruled out an alternative route for the proposed Kuttanad-Kochi-Mangalore GAIL gas pipeline project. After the Supreme Court ordered in April that the pipeline be laid along its original route cutting across agricultural fields, the only ray of hope for the farmers was the possibility of a rethink on the part of the Union government and GAIL on the alignment. But a week ago, Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan told Parliament that the Centre examined the issue with GAIL and that the company’s response was that it was not feasible to lay high pressure cross-country gas pipelines along the highways as suggested by the affected farmers and the Tamil Nadu government. “Reputed consultants in the field of oil and gas pipelines have also expressed their opinion regarding technical non-feasibility of laying of high pressure cross-country gas pipelines for long distances along national highways,” Pradhan said. The state’s apprehension is that the alignment would cause irrecoverable damage to the agricultural property of several thousand farmers in the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri. The pipeline will cover a distance of 310 km and farmers will have to give up land for a width of 20 metres along that stretch. It is estimated that over 1,20,000 fruit bearing trees will have to be uprooted to lay the giant pipes. Pradhan cited GAIL’s contention that there was non-availability of adequate space on national highways for movement of heavy duty crawler mounted equipment used for laying of pipeline, non-availability of land for installation of sectionalizing valve stations intermediate pigging stations required to be installed at regular intervals along the pipeline, safety and security concerns, and disruption of highways. But the state hopes to arrive at a solution fast. “The state government has recently received a letter from GAIL to join its 13-member expert committee, which includes Anna University professors, to resolve alignment issues, following CM’s request to PM Modi,” said a senior TN government official. Ricardo Allen Authentic Jersey
Centre will not force Tamil Nadu to implement CBM project: Dharmendra Pradhan
The Centre would not force Tamil Nadu to implement coal-bed methane project, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said. “Government of India is not going to force or apply force. After consulting and take local community and the state government into confidence then only we can proceed (on the project),” he said. He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Chennai Petroleum Corporation a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, at Manali near here. Pradhan’s comments have comes in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu government halting the project in 2013, by Great Eastern Energy Corporation Ltd in delta districts following the apprehensions of farmers who feared that the project would affect agricultural operations. “On the better interest of youth of Tamil Nadu, for their employment, for the industry and for the business, we must monetize the gas”, he said. Earlier at the Golden Jubilee celebrations, he sought the support of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for development of the gas pipeline network and for the coal-bed methane production in Tamil Nadu. “Our Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed towards ‘Energy Justice’ & CPCL has a large role to play in it”. After formally the commissioning of Mounded Bullets at the CPCL refinery, he said the Mounded Bullets facility would enhance the safety and storage capacity of LPG at the refinery. He said CPCL was meeting the energy demands of Tamil Nadu and nearby states with “great reliability”. Commemorating the Golden Jubilee celebrations, he unveiled a memorabilia, symbolising the 50 years of CPCL refinery on the occasion. Pradhan along with Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan reviewed the performance of CPCL. Austin Carr Womens Jersey
IOC in talks to buy GSPC’s stake in Mundra LNG terminal
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is in talks to buy debt-laden Gujarat State Petroleum Corp’s (GPSC) stake in the under-construction Rs 45 billion Mundra LNG import terminal in Gujarat. GSPC is looking to exit the 5 million tonnes a year LNG import terminal project, which is likely to be completed by mid-2017. It has offered its 50 per cent stake in the terminal to IOC, sources privy to the development said. With a view to expand its gas business, IOC is keen to buy a stake in Mundra terminal but does not want GSPC to exit the project completely. IOC, the country’s largest oil company, wants the state government entity to remain as a part of the project for smooth operations, sources said. The terminal is not connected with any pipeline for shipping gas to consumers. To lay a pipeline to the nearest grid, it would require state government support and with GSPC on board, it could be done easily, according to IOC. Sources also said IOC is keen to take half of GSPC stake and wants the Gujarat government entity to keep the remaining 25 per cent. GSPC LNG, a unit of GSPC holds 50 per cent interest in the project. Adani Group holds 25 per cent while the remaining 25 per cent is to be bid to a strategic partner, the shortlist of which also included IOC. It will be selling 5 million tonnes a year LNG terminal together with storage and re-gasification facilities over an area of 28 hectares on the coast. India Gas Solutions Pvt Ltd, the equal joint venture between the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries and Europe’s second largest oil firm BP and state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) are the other two firms shortlisted to pick up 25 per cent stake earmarked for the strategic partner in the project. Initially, eight firms including state gas utility GAIL India had expressed interest to buy the stake but only three were finalised. Essentially, GSPC was looking at a partner which can bring in LNG or can consume the imported liquid gas, sources said. While BP is a producer and trader of LNG, RIL’s twin refineries at Jamnagar in Gujarat as well as its large petrochemical plants are huge consumers of gas. ONGC also is a big consumer of the fuel. IOC too has large requirement of gas at its oil refineries. The company also markets gas to users. Besides the three, other firms which had expressed interest included Petronet LNG, Torrent Energy, Japan’s Mitsui & Co and Toyota Tsusho, sources said. Mundra terminal, which is to be financed in a debt to equity ratio of 70:30, is expandable up to 10 million tonnes per annum in near future. Teemu Pulkkinen Jersey