Natural Gas Regulation

Powell Goldstein's Energy attorneys have extensive experience representing natural gas production companies and state regulatory commissions before FERC in interstate pipeline rate, certificate and Order No. 636 gas restructuring proceedings, including the restructuring of state energy markets.

Together, we have:

• Represented interstate natural gas and liquid hydrocarbon pipelines, local natural gas distribution companies, marketers, and shippers in a variety of FERC regulatory matters

• Successfully procured certificates of public convenience and necessity crucial to the siting and construction of new pipelines and pipeline expansions

• Successfully prosecuted rate filings

• Successfully defended investigation/enforcement proceedings for interstate natural gas pipelines and pipeline customers

• Represented gas industry clients in FERC complaint proceedings and have prosecuted petitions for review of FERC orders at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

• Assisted pipelines and pipeline customers regarding a variety of transactional matters, including negotiating and drafting natural gas transportation and supply agreements

• Provided extensive advice on natural gas regulatory issues to major natural gas producers, including advice on:

  • Natural Gas Act Section 4 cost of service analysis; rate design analysis; natural gas gathering pipeline jurisdictional disputes

  • Section 311 intrastate pipeline transactions; resulting in the reduction natural gas cost of service rates for several Midwestern interstate pipelines

• Helped secure DOE natural gas import/export applications

• Successfully interpreted royalty obligations for both onshore and offshore oil and gas leases

• Successfully interpreted natural gas contracts

• Successfully litigated DOE appeals in federal court by conducting discovery and presenting oral appellate arguments

• Successfully represented oil and gas companies before the California Public Utilities Commission regarding minimum operating reserves natural gas off-take issues, which prevented a major offshore oil field from reducing its production rates

Oil & Gas Transactions

Our Energy attorneys have:

• Drafted and participated in the negotiation of oil and gas unitization contracts and partnership agreements in Alaska, California and the Outer Continental Shelf totaling billions of dollars, concerning the exploration and production of petroleum resources

• Successfully represented a chemical manufacturer when an interstate oil pipeline attempted to restrict the transport of products containing more than a trace amount of a legal chemical