| Northwest Pipe has actually filed suit versus oil and also gas giant Chevron, looking for $20 million to cover the expenses of relocating a section of its pipeline away from Chevron's Kemmerer, Wyoming, coal mine.
Northwest, an interstate gas pipeline unit of Tulsa-based Williams Partners, claimed in papers submitted in Wyoming's federal district court recently that operations and explosions at Chevron's Kemmerer Coal Mine created splits in the ground beneath Northwest's gas line south of town over the previous summer, compeling Northwest to at some point reconstruct a part of the line on more secure ground.
" The problem seeks to recover costs Williams incurred and also remains to sustain to keep track of, isolate, stabilize, bypass and also move its 26-inch- and also 30-inch-diameter lines at Chevron Mining Kemmerer mine after land movement was spotted in the location," Northwest spokeswoman Michele Swaner said Monday, including that Northwest's parent "took these steps to ensure the safety and also integrity of its facilities and also to stop interruption of service to its customers."
Agents of San Ramos, California-based Chevron did not call back for remark Monday, however Northwest, in its court filing, says Chevron has actually preserved its right to extract coal at Kemmerer and also was not liable for any type of damages to Northwest's pipe neither for the cost of moving it further from the mouth of the mine.
At the same time, Chevron is looking for to exit the coal business in the United States and also is arranged to sell the Kemmerer Mine Tuesday to Englewood, Colorado-based Westmoreland Coal for $193 million as well as the presumption of debt as component of its adjustment in business strategies.
Swaner said the timing of the fit is a coincidence, as well as not designed to avoid the sale. HEDP acid at Westmoreland Coal did not return a call Monday for comment.
Westmoreland stated last week it was offering another $125 million in promissory notes, in addition to a $150 million using the week prior, for cash to spend for the Kemmerer Mine and give working capital.
The court filing states Chevron as well as a consulting geologist notified Northwest of the splits in the ground, and the geologist told Northwest that the splits around the mouth of mine "were becoming worse" and also "there was a 'good opportunity' that the north wall of the mine would relocate, causing a substantial shift in the earth underlying the pipes."
Northwest declares it kept Chevron educated of its plans as it rerouted the pipe near Kemmerer, and made it clear it anticipated Chevron to pay for the work. | | |
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