[cdn-nucl-l] Natural Gasp

["Neil Craik" <ncraik@nbnet.nb.ca>]

HALIFAX (CP) - The threat to a couple of large offshore natural gas rigs
operating near Sable Island diminished early Tuesday as winds diverted a
huge ice pack.(Collective gasp)

About 100 workers were earlier evacuated from the platforms about 290
kilometres southeast of Halifax as a precaution. There were concerns the
25-kilometre long stretch of sea ice could damage the legs of both rigs.
ExxonMobil Canada and Canadian Superior, operators of the rigs, said
yesterday they would leave them empty until the ice left the area. It could
take a few days to get back to normal operations.

Comments by Neil Craik; No mention of any interruption to the supply of
natural gas to the gas processing plant onshore Nova Scotia or to down
stream consumers.
About 2 years ago - Feb 2002 as I recall - the Bayside Generating Plant in
Saint John had to set back power significantly because of lack of natural
gas caused by problems with the fire protection on a Sable Island gas rig
followed by problems at the onshore processing plant. I pointed out that
possible risks to gas supply could include meteorites and gas explosion
impacting the one very long gas line from Sable island to Saint John. Also
suppose an interruption of the supply of Sable Island natural gas occurred
when electricity demand in New Brunswick peaked as in recent cold days.
Compare with the reliability of having many months of nuclear fuel stored on
site at Point Lepreau NGS.

One response at that time, was surely there could be a back feed of natural
gas from the US, but apparently the contracts for export of natural gas did
not cover such a back feed or it would be very costly.

Neil Craik