text_combined: el paso responds ferc expansion potential el paso says open expansion system el paso natural gas willing expand system california border sufficient support project demonstrated long term capacity contracts pipeline told ferc pipeline comments response commission inquiry asking el paso consider feasibility upgrading proposed line 2000 crude oil conversion project system expansion help ease pipeline capacity crunch west daniel adamson director ferc office energy projects raised prospect jan 3 letter el paso saying modifying project could assist difficult situation facing california gas market specifically commission recommended el paso amend pending application seeks acquire existing 30 inch diameter 1 088 mile crude oil pipeline plains american pipeline l p convert part natural gas transportation service line extends mccamey tx bakersfield ca el paso plans convert gas service 785 mile segment mccamey ehrenberg az el paso proposed line 2000 project loop line replace existing compression system expansion however several ways expansion could accomplished wrote el paso vice president al clark jan 15 el paso could add compression proposed line 2000 project could replace recommission compression pending application proposes abandon place third option said el paso could add new compression existing system loop either existing system line 2000 project preferable method determined careful analysis relative costs determination shippers want capacity e want put gas el paso system want gas delivered clark said first step towards gauging market support expansion noted el paso jan 12 posted 1 2 bcf california bound pipeline capacity sale effective june 1 year capacity currently held affiliate el paso merchant energy whose contracts expire may 31 posting results known el paso determine whether another open season needed solicit expressions interest additional pipeline capacity serve markets upstream california el paso finds unmet demand additional capacity system pipeline time evaluate whether expansion existing system modification line 2000 project appropriate means accomplishing expansion clark noted meantime urged commission approve el paso application line 2000 project filed project increase operational flexibility el paso current system converting line oil gas service necessary prerequisite future expansion pipeline system according clark