Press Releases
Central New York Oil & Gas Co. receives exemption from FERC, paving the way for the drilling of test wells in the Stagecoach Field eCORP CEO John F. Thrash applauds FERC for their prompt action.
October 1, 1999 – Houston, Tx (10:00 a.m. CST)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has granted Central New York Oil & Gas Company (CNYOG) an exemption under 7(c)(1)(B) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) so that a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7(c) of the NGA will not be required for CNYOG to drill up to eight stratigraphic test wells in the Stagecoach Field. The Stagecoach Field is a natural gas producing field located in Tioga County, New York, which CNYOG proposes to convert to underground natural gas storage. Construction of the storage facility will be subject to FERC’s approval of an application CYNOG plans to file in early November of this year.
According to John F. Thrash, CEO and President of CNYOG, "Drilling these test wells is critical to the final determinations in our plans to build a high performance storage facility in the Stagecoach Field. CNYOG will apply its proprietary Salternatives™ Technology to the Stagecoach Gas Storage Project. Salternatives™ was used successfully in the development of our Stuart Storage Facility in Oklahoma and these test wells will help us in adapting the technology to formations in the Northeastern Region of the United States."
Before the test wells can be drilled, CNYOG must first obtain approval to drill from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). CNYOG has been in discussion with the DEC and plans to file permit applications for the test wells within the next several weeks.
Dr. Thrash explained that, "Because the test wells could potentially be used as part of the Storage Facility to be approved by FERC, we felt is was necessary to seek this exemption. I would like to acknowledge the prompt and expeditious manner in which FERC acted on our petition." CNYOG filed is petition with FERC on August 26, 1999. The order granting CNYOG’s petition was issued by FERC on September 29, 1999 (Docket No. CP99-607-000)