Natural Gas Budgets Drop, But Facilities Increase

Despite being in a fiscal conservation mode, slightly more than half of natural gas companies are planning to construct new facilities in 2003.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff

Share

Despite being in a fiscal conservation mode, slightly more than half of natural gas companies are planning to construct new facilities in 2003, according to a recent study from Basic Systems, a consulting engineering firm based in Derwent, Ohio.

The firm, which specializes in pipeline and facility design for the natural gas industry, surveyed design professionals in both the public and private sectors across the United States. Findings from the Natural Gas Industry Survey include:

• Capital budgets are decreasing. More than half of the respondents say that their capital budgets will decrease this year.

• Fiscal conservation prevails. Some 66% of companies responding indicated that they were operating in a fiscal conservation mode.

• New facilities will rise. More than half the respondents say that despite the budget restraints, they have plans for new facilities. Most likely new construction will be pipelines, distribution facilities, compressions stations and mains.

• Improvements will be made. A majority of companies also plan to renovate some of their facilities in 2003.

For more information, visit online at: www.bsinaturalgas.com .