Alaskan Gas Pipeline Tops P&GJ's Pipeline Opportunities Conference.

HOUSTON -- The latest developments in the Alaskan natural gas pipeline project will headline the fifth annual Pipeline Opportunities Conference March 11, 2009 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

Jeff Share, conference chairman and editor of Pipeline & Gas Journal, said executives from TransCanada Pipelines and the Alaskan Natural Gas Development Authority (ANGDA) will discuss the status of their projects while top officials of Gov. Sarah Palin's administration and the Office of Federal Coordinator will provide the latest news from the state and federal governments.

This is a rare opportunity to gather the leading executives involved in the project in one place and the first time they will have all met in Houston, Share said.

"On one issue Gov. Palin and President-elect Obama agree: they want that pipeline built. Alaska needs that revenue and the lower 48 needs that gas and the jobs it will create," said Share.

Tony Palmer, Vice President of Business Development, will speak for TransCanada which was awarded the licensing by the state of Alaska. He will be joined by Harold Heinze, Chief Executive of ANGDA, a state agency that plans to build the intrastate system that will connect to the mainline and deliver gas to southeast Alaska. This spur line, which will cost well over $1 billion, will precede construction of the mainline.

The conference includes 20 speakers with Doug Foshee, President and CEO of El Paso Corp., giving the keynote address.

"Doug Foshee is representative of what has made the pipeline industry into an outstanding business sector," said Share. "Not only did he repair and rebuild a troubled company, but along with transparency, he injected a can-do spirit that typifies our industry."

Scott Thetford, Vice President, Energy & Financial Markets for Pace Global Consulting, and Ken Medlock, Fellow in Energy Studies, Baker Institute for Public Policy, will detail the growth and challenges of the North American and international natural gas markets.

Members of Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) will discuss ongoing research projects designed to help natural gas and oil products pipeline operators.

Executives of Regency Energy Partners, Energy Transfer Partners, NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage, and Kinder Morgan Renewable Fuels, will highlight new pipeline construction projects in the United States. Representatives from Mercer Consulting Services, BNSF Railroad and Cooper Consolidated will talk about the logistics involved in transporting equipment and pipe promptly and on budget.

The conference is co-sponsored by INGAA, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. To ensure a seat at the conference, attendees should pre-register at www.pgjonline.com. The cost to register is $250 with discounts for others from the same company. For information on registration, exhibits, sponsorships or hotels, contact conference manager Karen Francis at 281-558-6930 x 223 or [e-mail]. For program information contact Jeff Share at ext. 218 or [e-mail].